Out of Africa comes awareness

NEWPORT BEACH ? During Corona del Mar High School’s break period on Friday, 60 people died from water-related illnesses. They didn’t perish on the campus ? which has vending machines and state-of-the-art plumbing ? but rather in the remote villages of Africa, where clean water is an unheard-of luxury.

If Izabella Elkis’ senior project succeeds, at least one village may hear of it.

Izabella, 17, embarked on a quest this year to raise $6,000 to help build a well in Africa, where she spent the last summer on a trip with Mariners Church. On Friday, to help rally support for her cause, she tried a novel tactic. Early in the school day, she and a group of friends distributed red strings to 60 classmates, asking them to gather at the campus quad during break.

When the group was assembled, Izabella explained the significance of the number: Every 15 seconds, a child dies in Africa for lack of clean water. Over 15 minutes, the length of Corona del Mar’s break period, that amounts to 60 people.

“There’s nothing like it ? the cycle of abandonment, poverty and disease,” Izabella said. “You can’t stop it unless you come in from outside.”

To help make a difference this year, Izabella founded Club Malo, a group of about 30 students dedicated to improving conditions in Africa. On campus Friday, the group set up a table to sell T-shirts, bracelets and necklaces ? including two authentic products from the Zulu tribe. During break, the campus quad boomed with a stereo playing African tribal music, while a banner taped to the wall declared, “20% of the global population lacks access to clean water.”

Friday marked the second-to-last day of Africa Week, a special week of events hosted by Club Malo. On Wednesday, the club hosted a screening of the documentary “The Invisible Children,” about the ongoing civil war in Uganda. Although the club sold only a few items on Friday, the members intend to keep the table out for at least two more weeks. All proceeds will go to the 1,000 Wells Project, a group dedicated to restoring clean water to Africa.

“That’s part of our main mission, not just to raise money, but also to bring awareness,” said Lindsay Thompson, a Corona del Mar counselor and Club Malo’s advisor.

Even though Africa Week had been in full swing for the last few days, most students didn’t know what to expect when Izabella and her partners handed them red strings on Friday morning. Junior Kate Gritsch, 16, complimented the group for tackling a little-known issue.

“A lot of talk is about AIDS, and it’s nice they’re branching off into another area,” she said.dpt.24-africa-2-CPhotoInfoIU1Q8CCJ20060424iy3cqgncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Student Danielle Dunn wears a red string to represent one child who dies every 15 seconds in Africa due to water-related disease.dpt.24-africa-1-CPhotoInfoIU1Q8CCG20060424iy3cluncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)During a fundraising exercise by student Izabella Elkis, who wants to donate money to build a water well, Corona del Mar students form a circle to bring attention to children who die from water-related illness in Africa.