Doctors say you're supposed to have eight glasses of water a day, but what if you have no way of getting that? Some countries around the world have no clean water, children there are forced to drink dirty contaminated water or worse, no water at all.

There are ways you can help, and it starts right here in mid-Missouri. A group of students are putting aside their own needs and are tapping into the needs of children all around the world.

At Smithon Middle School, the students aren't working on an average class project, it's saving kids' lives.

The project is overflowing with emotion because kids are dying, when we, at home, have everything.

The 7th graders at Smithton Middle School are taking a step back from their everyday lives and are focusing on the lives of children less fortunate.

"Our lives are so easy compared to kids in Africa who- they can't even go to school because the have to find water for their family," Rayna Sims, seventh grader.

The students found a world-wide charity that helps quench the thirst of children all over the world--The Tap Project.

An organization called UNICEF started The Tap Project--it takes place during "World Water Week." "I love seeing my kids get involved in something that's real," said Sara Jaeger, teacher.

The students have been working on the project since January--coming up with marketing ideas on how to get Columbia involved.

For the next week, Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro, Andy's Frozen Custard and Shakespeare's West will participate in the Tap Project.

"All you have to do is go out and eat like a normal day, and add one dollar and you could provide a child with water for 40 days," Sims said.

After spending three months, the students are excited to see the outcome of their hard work.

"I knew that if we did this we could be helping alot of kids," Kelly Clevenger, seventh grader, said.

"We''re not just doing an assignment... we're not writing letters for the audience of a teacher, we're doing something that will go out into the community and affect others," Jaeger said.

With the help of the community, kids from all over the world can enjoy something we take for granted every day.

"We have lots of water and everyone is kind of wasting it when we could save it and give it to other people," Clevenger said.

The school also held a walk with a one dollar registration--they had more than 150 walkers. So far, Smithton Middle School has raised more than eight hundred dollars.

World water week continues until Saturday, March 28, 2009.