When I was 15, like many of my peers, I was focused on boys and my brand new flip phone. And that’s about it from what I remember.

But, senior apparel merchandising major Ceci Tucker had something else on her mind. Charity.

Ceci remembers learning about Africa in her high school geography class. From there, a change sparked within her.

“I came from a really wealthy high school, every student had a bottle of water on their desk, it seemed crazy to me that we had water parks around based on this element and that people in this world can’t get water,” she recalls.

How’s that Smart Water on your desk tasting? Or is it a Fiji water? Take a minute and imagine what it would be like to be completely deprived of any water, much less a beautifully bottled, labeled and filtered one. Ceci shared with me the fact that in Africa, 40 billion hours alone are spent each year by women and children in search of clean water.

How’s that education treating you? Take a minute and imagine not being able to sit in that uncomfortable desk in Eddy we all complain about, because instead of being able to get an education,  you have to search for water to survive.

Imagine if, instead of worrying about what phone or tablet you “need” next (which I’ll admit, I am fully guilty of), you had to worry about this one vital element: clean water.

“It’s an endless cycle, if you get clean water, so many good things will come from it,” Ceci said.

Ceci took these problems, problems that were happening thousands of miles away from her and decided to make a difference. She founded Little Pieces of Hope in high school, and started back up her freshman year right here at CSU.

Little Pieces of Hope is a unique project to say the least; Ceci creates and designs beautiful and unique jewelry, which proceeds then go to building water wells in developing countries. The money goes to an organization called Charity Water. The organization not only teaches communities how to upkeep their well once they have received one through donations, but teaches women and children basic hygiene practices — as simple as hand-washing. About thirty percent of diseases can be prevented with these basic hygienic practices.

So far, Little Pieces of Hope has raised $3,500, $1,500 of which that has gone directly to Ethiopia and built a well — providing clean water for many.

Ceci is a student we should all be proud to have as a member of our CSU community.

I hear quite a bit of talk around campus about wanting to make a difference, about caring for other countries and people in need — but I often don’t see enough action. We so frequently convinced that when causes are so enormous and overpowering, one small voice will not be heard.

However, Ceci reminds us, “Our generation is the generation to take the opportunity to better this world … If I can do it anyone can do it … Any one person can help change the world.”

We can make a difference, no matter how big or how small our causes are. Ceci is a prime example of this with Little Pieces of Hope. And if you’re looking for a way to start, Little Pieces of Hope will be at the flea market in the Lory Student Center on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds on Tuesday will be going to the American Cancer Society.

If you can’t make it on Tuesday, be sure to “like” Little Pieces of Hope on Facebook and check out the store at www.etsy.com/shop/littlepiecesofhope. What’s better than donating to a great cause and walking away with a piece of jewelry for yourself (or your girlfriend, guys!) that represents a positive change you helped make in the world? It becomes a unique symbol of your generosity and individuality — I’d say that’s money well spent.

Remember, nothing changes without action — you can make a difference in the world. I challenge you to start now, Rams!

Copy Editor Lauren Stieritz is a senior communication studies major. Her columns appear Fridays in the Collegian. She can be reached at letters@collegian.com or on Twitter @laurenstieritz.

LSC event: https://www.facebook.com/events/361304483958358/

Little Pieces of Hope Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LittlePiecesofHope?ref=ts&fref=ts

Etsy site/shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittlePiecesofHope

More information: www.charitywater.org