Middle Schoolers Inspired by “A Long Walk for Water”
Last week, we got to visit Ms. Amy Fitzgerald鈥檚 class for a special guest speaker! Mr. Sylvain Sebazungu, a 91猫先生 parent, visited and spoke with our 6th graders about his experience growing up in Rwanda, Africa and his journey to America. Mr. Sebazungu had to survive on his own and walked miles to get water every day, much like the characters of A Long Walk to Water.
His visit was at the conclusion of Ms. Fitzgerald鈥檚 recent study of the book A Long Walk to Water, a novel written by Linda Sue Park. The novel combines the true story of Salva Dut, member of the Dinka tribe and part of the 鈥淪udanese Lost Boys鈥�, and the fictional story of Nya, a young village girl, a part of the Nuer tribe. The author used this book as a platform to support Salva Dut’s organization, Water for South Sudan.
鈥淎fter reading A Long Walk to Water, the 6th grade class were not content to just finish the book and move on. Many could not comprehend how blessed we are and yet how so many on this planet don鈥檛 even have enough water or water clean enough to drink. Inviting Mr. Sebazungu to speak to our class about growing up in Africa and facing many of the same challenges Salva, the main character of our story, faced, seemed to ignite the compassion even more,鈥� Fitzgerald said.
You might have seen some of our Middle Schoolers walking around school with a gallon of water, or perhaps hosting a bake sale. Many of the 6th grade students from Ms. Amy Fitzgerald鈥檚 class were inspired by their recent read to strike up a fundraising effort called 鈥淐hange for Change.鈥� Through this effort, they are hoping to raise enough change to build a water well in South Sudan, and we think they might accomplish even more than that!
鈥淪tarting up a campaign called, 鈥淐hange for Change,鈥� to reach a goal of $1,000 to build a well in South Sudan, the 6th grade class began collecting loose change around their homes, out of cars, and in their own stash. They were not content to stop there and as one group thought of new ways to raise money, other groups were already trying out their ideas, and the change just multiplied. Their goal is to build a well, but judging by their passion and drive, we may even be able to build two!鈥� – Amy Fitzgerald