BQSIP Campaign Launched

Willa Vish

Willa Vish

Brookline High School (BHS) sophomore Willa Vish announced the launch of a campaign to sell reusable water bottles to help fund the Brookline Sister City Project clean water initiative in Quezalguaque.  Vish made the announcement at the Sister City Educational Forum & Fundraiser at the Brookline VFW Post.

At the time the announcement was made, the environmental friendly reusable bottles had not yet been received; Vish and her fellow BHS students took orders for bottles rather than selling them at the Sister City fundraiser as originally planned. Since the bottles arrived, they have been selling rapidly. If you are interested in purchasing a BQSIP bottle contact us at brooklinesistercity@gmail.com

Vish along with fellow sophomore Sophie Jelden were among the BHS students that traveled to Quezalguaque in April 2018 and this fall they led efforts to organize a BHS student club to support Quezalguaque and the Sister City Project. Social studies teacher Joanne Burke-Hunter traveled to Quezalguaque with the students in April as she is the faculty advisor for the newly authorized club.

Speaking to the attendees at the event that featured former Governor Michael Dukakis and award winning correspondent Stephen Kinzer, Vish explained that the BHS club’s first project is selling reusable water bottles.  Funds raised by the sale will be donated to the Brookline Sister City Project for the clean water initiative funded by the Sister City Project for the Quezalguaque community.

Vish and the members of the new club not only hope to raise money for and build awareness of the Sister City Project but they are promoting the reusable water bottles as an alternative to single use plastic commercially sold water bottles.

The typical American reportedly uses an average of 167 plastic water bottles per year. With promotion of reusable water bottles, the goal will be to dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate single use plastic bottles.

Vish, Jelden and the other students in attendance at the Sister City Ed Forum received orders for more than 40 bottles at the event. The bottles are branded BQSIP for Brookline-Quezalguaque SIP.

Sister City Board member and liaison to the Brookline schools, Stacey Downey introduced Vish at the event and commended the students for establishing the club and taking on the new initiative.

For more information about the Sister City Project or to order a BQSIP $12 reusable water bottle, contact BrooklineSisterCity@gmail.com

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