USC Students Help Bring Clean Water to Ghana Community

Led by rising seniors Olivia Mamakos and Augusta Bottonari, the student organization exceeded its fundraising goal during the 2025-26 school year, raising nearly $10,000 to support clean water initiatives in Ghana.

The club's signature fundraising event, the Walk for Water, was held during Global Education Week last fall. Students collected pledges from family members and friends before walking four laps around the high school track while carrying one-gallon water jugs. The activity was designed to symbolize the daily journey many people in Ghana must make to access clean drinking water.

“In total, with the support of KSG Orthodontics and Venator Management in sponsoring our event, we raised $9,907.51,” Olivia said. “Of that, $5,000 was dedicated to building a well in Dekpevie, and the remaining amount will be used to benefit our current Jarigu dam expansion and treatment project.”

For Olivia and Augusta, seeing videos of residents using the newly completed well was a powerful reminder of the impact students can have on communities around the world.

“Knowing that the Dekpevie community now has a reliable and fresh water source really puts things into perspective,” she said. “It reminds us how something we take for granted every day, like clean water, is life-changing for someone else. It also proves that we students do not need to wait until we are older to make a difference. It truly shows how much of an impact a group of students can make when we work together.”

The Hope for Ghana Club was founded in spring 2025 after Olivia and Augusta began exploring ideas for their International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) project. Through Olivia's grandmother, the students were introduced to Dr. Steve Greene, founder of Hope for Ghana.

“After speaking with him, I knew instantly that I wanted to expand my involvement beyond just a one-time MYP project,” Olivia said. “I realized that this needed to be a collective effort to make a measurable difference, so I called upon my friend, Augusta, to help me bring this vision to life. Together, we created USC Hope for Ghana to sustain and maximize our impact.”

The students were inspired by Hope for Ghana's mission to serve rural and often underserved communities through sustainable development projects.

“What sets this organization apart for us is its focus on sustainability,” Olivia said. “Specifically, their commitment to building water wells creates a lasting impact for these communities, rather than just offering a single, temporary fix.”

The Hope for Ghana Club includes approximately 15 student members. Club leaders hope to expand participation and increase their impact in the coming school year. Students can sign up to get involved during the school’s annual rush event in September.

“Next year, we plan to hold another Walk for Water event to raise money for our Jarigu dam expansion and treatment project and to spread awareness of the water scarcity crisis Ghana faces today,” Olivia said. “We also plan on hosting more fundraising events throughout the school year.”

Hope for Ghana will host a charity golf outing on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Manor Valley Golf Course in Export, Pennsylvania. For details, visit hopeforghana.com/golf. Additional information about Hope for Ghana’s mission and its projects is available at hopeforghana.com.

Community members can also watch a video showcasing the completed clean water well and the impact it is already having on residents of Dekpevie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yioEuRsoRg