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Nya's Long Walk

A Step at a Time

Elementary

Description

Nya and her younger sister Akeer head home after their daily trek to fetch water, when suddenly the young child becomes too ill to walk.  Faced with the reality of being unable to carry her sister and the precious resource her family needs, Nya pours half of the water onto the ground, places Akeer on her back and step by step makes it to their village.  Exhausted, but determined, Nya continues walking with her mother to finally reach the clinic that can treat the disease that Akeer contracted from the very water they collect.  When the family returns home to discover a new well in their village, the lives of the two sisters are forever transformed.  Fiction meets reality in this special story that describes the daily hardship of girls like Nya who walk long miles to obtain water and how a simple solution like a community well alters their future by providing the opportunity for safety, health and an education.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Reading this story builds English Language Arts skills while supporting Grade K-3 Social Studies topics regarding the environment and human needs, cultural diversity and global issues surrounding poverty and children's rights.  The book is also the companion to the true story of Salva Dut, told in "A Long Walk to Water" written by the same author.  Salva escaped his country as one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”, and later returned to his homeland to establish the charity “Water for South Sudan” which provides water supplies and improved sanitation in villages throughout this region.  The relationship between the two books can be used to support student discussions about global citizenship and community building through sustainable development.

The book's afterword also describes the link between clean water and reduced incidence of communicable, waterborne illness which could lead to a classroom service-learning project in which students plan and organize a fundraiser for an “Iron Giraffe Drill”.  Information about this program along with unique and creative fundraising ideas can be found here.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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Themes Addressed

Human Rights (1)

  • Poverty

Water (2)

  • Water Quality
  • Water Treatment and Distribution

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