The first and second graders in the multi-age class at Dunbar Primary are at it again. They are thinking globally and this time they are thinking about water wells in Uganda. The students have been learning about fresh water, filters, ground water, layers of the earth and much more. But today’s lesson was more about being grateful for what you have and how we can bless others.
To bring that message first hand was Mr. Jonathan Sewava straight off the plane from Uganda, Africa who told the students the difference one water well can make to a community.
He said, “The children wake at 4 a.m. to go to the ponds to bring back water. If they are privileged to go to school, they have to walk seven miles. The children cut wood or bring sticks to the schools to use for firewood to heat up their porridge for lunch.”
He visited with the students about the hardships of living in a community without fresh water. How they drink from ponds where animals and cattle drink and bathe. How that dirty water can make children sick. How that the children don’t wear shoes and may have only two second-hand dresses to wear and washing clothes daily is not an option.
Mr. Sewava showed pictures to the students of a water well that was installed from funds from a multi-age class from Dunbar Primary years ago. The well is in working order and the village has clean water to drink.
The students asked questions like about eating meat and how many hours he was on an airplane to get to Lufkin from Uganda. They wanted to know about languages and why the children have to work.
Mr. Jonathan explained that meat was a luxury and that villagers might have it once a year for Christmas. The children work hard. Those who are approximately 7 to 10 years old are busy clearing an acre of land to plant corn. They dig holes for a very long time to get the job done.
Classroom teacher, Jamie Mahan explained to the children how fortunate they are to just turn on the tap for clean water, but with money raised from their classroom, a village could have a water well that will allow the community to have fresh water allowing the students to go to school instead of hauling water all day.
Mrs. Mahan has much more in store for the children with more classroom visitors and projects to take their learning of the importance of water to the next level.
To find out more about the water well project or to learn how you can donate, contact Jamie Mahan at jmahan@lufkinisd.org.
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