The Water Challenge at Riverhead Middle School
(February 4, 2014) Ms. Mindy Benze’s English class at the Middle School has been studying a book entitled A LONG WALK TO WATER by Linda Sue Park. As noted by the author's short overview on on her website:
"A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese "Lost Boys" airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s.
Before leaving Africa, Salva's life is one of harrowing tragedy. Separated from his family by war and forced to travel on foot through hundreds of miles of hostile territory, he survives starvation, animal attacks, and disease, and ultimately leads a group of about 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Relocated to upstate New York, Salva resourcefully learns English and continues on to college. Eventually he returns to his home region in southern Sudan to establish a foundation that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. This poignant story of Salva's life is told side-by-side with the story of Nya, a young girl who lives today in one of those villages."
Ms. Benze's students were so moved and so motivated by their studies that they initiated a ”Water Challenge” to the Middle School teachers, staff and students. This was a challenge whereby Ms. Benze, her students and several other teachers and students pledged to drink only water for two weeks to raise awareness about the water crisis around the world. The participants then donated the money they saved (from not purchasing soda, ice tea, etc.) to The Water Project. So far they have collected over $1,000.00! Their money will be combined with other schools that have participated in a Water Challenge to fund the digging of a well in a place like the Sudan. It costs about $15,000 to dig a well, but can change the lives of the children who live in that village.
To congratulate her students on their efforts, Ms. Benze created a short video (see below) to share individual comments. It's a great way to share the experience that a book can bring to a group of students who dig beneath the surface of their studies . . .
"A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese "Lost Boys" airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s.
Before leaving Africa, Salva's life is one of harrowing tragedy. Separated from his family by war and forced to travel on foot through hundreds of miles of hostile territory, he survives starvation, animal attacks, and disease, and ultimately leads a group of about 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Relocated to upstate New York, Salva resourcefully learns English and continues on to college. Eventually he returns to his home region in southern Sudan to establish a foundation that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. This poignant story of Salva's life is told side-by-side with the story of Nya, a young girl who lives today in one of those villages."
Ms. Benze's students were so moved and so motivated by their studies that they initiated a ”Water Challenge” to the Middle School teachers, staff and students. This was a challenge whereby Ms. Benze, her students and several other teachers and students pledged to drink only water for two weeks to raise awareness about the water crisis around the world. The participants then donated the money they saved (from not purchasing soda, ice tea, etc.) to The Water Project. So far they have collected over $1,000.00! Their money will be combined with other schools that have participated in a Water Challenge to fund the digging of a well in a place like the Sudan. It costs about $15,000 to dig a well, but can change the lives of the children who live in that village.
To congratulate her students on their efforts, Ms. Benze created a short video (see below) to share individual comments. It's a great way to share the experience that a book can bring to a group of students who dig beneath the surface of their studies . . .
One of Ms. Benze’s students created a Prezi about water to help raise awareness. Play it. If you'd like to help the middle school with this effort, there is still time, contact Ms. Mindy Benze ([email protected]) .