MARIETTA - While many teens spent their summers relaxing, four Marietta High School rising sophomores saw an opportunity to help others worldwide and hit the ground "stitching."

Last year, freshman Ana Vianei, 16, was inspired by a program called Global Youth Service Day, which encourages youth to organize community service projects. After researching global issues, she came across the water crisis in Africa and formed her own organization called For the Love of Africa.

Vianei enlisted the help of her friends to form the organization, including Leigh Borkowski, 14, Jana French, 15, and Sam Haisty, 15. Together, the girls began creating T-shirts and have been selling them at the Farmers Market on the Square all summer. Proceeds from the shirts are going to the national non-profit Dry Tears, which will use the money to build a water well in Nouna, a village in Burkina Faso, which is a landlocked nation that sits above Ghana in western Africa.

"We always talk about water, such a simple thing that you would think people would have access to, but millions and millions of people have to do without clean water to drink," Vianei said.

Vianei discovered Dry Tears, which was founded by former Harrison High School student Conner Cress, after looking for a larger non-profit involved in the water crisis. Conner named the organization Dry Tears because some of the children in Africa are so dehydrated they don't have enough moisture in their body to produce tears. He began selling bracelets to students four years ago to build wells in Africa, and his project is now a national non-profit organization.

"It was a wonderful, moving story and I could relate to it so much, being a freshman in high school and wanting to make a difference," Vianei said.

The girls ran into a similar problem that Conner had when he tried to start up Dry Tears - they also didn't have money to start up their own organization. Vianei's literature teacher, Adam Russell, saw her passion for the cause and gave her $250 to get the girls T-shirts and supplies. Vianei said she is grateful for his financial assistance, while Russell said he felt obligated to help the girls out.

"Ana is very motivated and determined. When she spoke about (For the Love Of Africa), she was very passionate and I knew she could take it and do something with it," Russell said. "I felt like it was a freight train coming down the tracks and I didn't want to stand in its way. She's a great role model for their generation."

After hosting many after-school stitching parties in Russell's class, For the Love Of Africa began selling T-shirts in January. The T-shirts even became a fashion trend at the high school, Vianei said.

French said being a part of the organization has "been a very rewarding experience."

"We're not only gaining the joy from helping other people, but we're also gaining the knowledge of how to do business and design a T-shirt," she said. "I always thought that if you want something to change in the world or see a need, it's your responsibility to fix what you see is wrong. I wanted to help the world and this was the perfect opportunity for me to meet up with friends while at the same time helping the world."

Vianei said For the Love of Africa has inspired her generation and others.

"Girls will come up to me at the Farmer's Market and ask how I got started. Our generation has an awful reputation for being apathetic, but we find power in our youth. Regardless of not being able to drive, living in a small community and being young, we can do something," she said. "I think it's empowering to the youth around us and inspiring them to do something. It's worthy to feel productive and know that you're doing something for someone else."

Most recently, Marietta resident Patti Pearlberg set up a meeting with the girls after her husband brought one of the T-shirts home. Pearlberg, vice president of asset management for Coro Realty Advisors, saw an opportunity to help For the Love Of Africa. Coro Realty Advisors is hosting a party Oct. 22 with Jezebel Magazine to promote the success of one of their properties, O5 Buckhead, a luxury high-rise apartment building. At the party, Coro Realty Advisors employees will be wearing the T-shirts and asking attendees to donate to For the Love of Africa.

"We wanted to share our success with a charitable organization, and in trying to figure out something worthwhile, we wanted to find some entrepreneurial people that are doing something special for others," she said. "Sometimes its just fate that you run into people. I went back to see them and was incredibly impressed. We've formed a partnership and our goal is to raise the money they need to build a well in Africa."

It costs roughly $4,500 to build the well in Burkina Faso. Vianei said For the Love Of Africa has raised $2,500 so far.

For the Love Of Africa T-shirts cost $15, with $10 of the purchase going toward building the well. The remaining $5 per shirt goes toward supplies and other expenses. T-shirts come in about 10 colors and an array of patterns. Each T-shirt has the continent of Africa on the front with a peace sign that marks Nouna. Buyers can also choose if they would like a heart or tear drops on the back of the T-shirt.

For the Love Of Africa will have a stand next to Sugar Cakes at the Marietta Square every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. T-shirt designs and more information is also available on the group's Facebook page, called For the Love Of Africa T-shirt Orders.