Downey students challenge City Council to 'Jerry Can Challenge'

DOWNEY — Downey High School students from the Thirst Project Club attended Tuesday’s Downey City Council Meeting to announce their Walk for Water event taking place on Saturday, March 7, at their school.

The students laid out a challenge to the City Council called the Jerry Can Challenge in which they have to walk a lap on the Downey High School track carrying a 44-pound jerry can. 

“The reason we challenged our city leaders is because we want to show our community that our leaders care not only about the youth in our community but those less fortunate around the world,” said Diana Baliscao, President of the Downey High Thirst Project Club.

The purpose of the jerry can challenge is to challenge one’s body and mind to take a walk carrying 44 pounds of water to simulate the daily walk for water people around the world make every day.

By taking this challenge, every participant gains fresh perspective on water appreciation and spreads awareness on the global water crisis.

“The Jerry Can Carry Challenge gives you an opportunity to walk in the shoes of women and children who lack access to clean drinking water and have to walk up to three hours each day carrying water,” said Jordan Guerrero, senior at Downey High School.

The City Council members accepted the challenge and will be carrying out their challenge on a date to be announced. The students invite the Downey community to also take up this challenge to raise awareness about the nearly one billion people who live without clean drinking water. 

The Downey Community is also invited to attend the Walk for Water taking place at Downey High School on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.