Thanks to the students at Good Shepherd School in Okotoks, and also local young ladies Megan Coutts and Gabby Gibbs, a community in India has a new school.

The students at Good Shepherd raised $10 000 to go towards the project, and Megan and Gabby travelled overseas to turn that money into a school.

These ladies are volunteers with ME to WE, which is an international organization that strives to create sustainable communities all around the world. They focus on improving healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation, and alternative income opportunities.

Megan and Gabby say this new school will help provide better academic opportunities for the students.

"Two new school rooms will be used by the older kids so they no longer have to be in the same room as the younger ones. This will encourage the older students to pursue post-secondary education, and feel confident in their ability to go to university", they say.

The old school was also lacking a usable washroom, which was causing girls to miss a significant amount of school. However, thanks to the project, the school now has a nice new washroom facility.

"This, along with the new school rooms, will encourage girls to stay in school and not drop out when they are fifteen. When they do drop out that young, they get married off, and have the potential to fall back into the poverty cycle", Gabby says.

The community will continue to work at funding renovations for the old school, to provide an even better academic environment for the students.

To get involved in a project like this, check out the organization's website.

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