For each step of a half-mile journey, local middle school students walked in the shoes of Sudanese children.
Sixth-grade students from McDougle Middle School walked the distance from the school to Hank Anderson III Community Park in Carrboro to collect water in recognition of Tuesday’s World Water Day, a United Nations day dedicated to water issues.
The program’s goal was to teach through experience about access to clean water in the United States compared with Sudan.
“I didn’t know the water would be this dirty,” student Claire Howes said. “It smells really bad.”
The half-mile distance was trivial compared to the eight hours many Sudanese children spend walking to get water each day, sixth-grade social studies teacher Katie Gulledge said.
“It’s interesting that some of them wanted to sit down already (after a short walk),” she said.
Back in the classroom, students practiced filtration techniques and calculated how much water is used in basic household processes.
“I feel lucky that I have all this drinkable water,” student Bianca Silva said.
The students have spent the year exploring the plight of clean water access in Sudan and have dedicated the week of March 21 for a school-wide global education project called “Learning Without Borders.”