When Claire Vlases of Montana was in Grade 7, she learned about plans to modernize her middle school. Claire asked the school board (董事会) to add solar panel to the project because, she explained, clean energy would be helpful to a really modern school.
The board liked the idea but said it could offer just $25, 000 – one-fifth of the cost. So Claire organized a group of kids and grown-ups who set to work raising the rest. They sold their second-hand books, put on talent shows and asked for donations (捐赠), even going door-to-door for them. One donated more than half the cost!
After two years of hard work, the group paid for the solar panels, which now provide one-fourth of the school's electricity needs — saving the neighborhood thousands of dollars. "My favorite part about this project was that one person could start something small and then the project could grow and have a big influence on the community," Claire said. "There are always going to be hard parts. When there's a challenge (挑战) presented to you, you can learn from it and use it as a chance to overcome it."
