Fourth-grade students at Childersburg Elementary School are trying to make a splash in other parts of the world.

In March the students conducted a fundraising campaign to help bring clean water to countries in need. Through lollipop sales with a few personal touches, the students raised $220 for the Children’s Safe Drinking Water program, which distributes PUR water purification packets to developing countries and emergency relief services.

The money raised will go toward helping families without clean drinking water in countries such as Haiti, Syria and the Dominican Republic, among others.

“I think it’s great,” principal Cynthia Brooks said. “It takes us out of our community and exposes the kids to what’s happening around the world.”

Fourth-grade teacher Samena Collins said the children became interested in this effort while studying global awareness. They found out about the program and how the PUR packets work to kill bacteria and remove sediments.

Collins said the students were surprised at the places that have contaminated water without ample resources for cleaning it.

“Kids don’t know what it takes to get clean water,” she said.

The classes sold lollipops to raise money for Children’s Safe Drinking Water. As a personal touch, they added cards with water-saving tips.

“I thought it was a great idea to help people who don’t have clean water. I was so proud that people bought the lollipops and made donations. I wish we could sell them all the time and raise even more money,” said fourth-grader Ryan Hassell.

Collins said the recent disaster in Haiti stimulated the students’ sense of charity in the project.