Image of footprints in a barren landscape

Juan Carlos Ribas

Lost Boy, Found

The true story of a young man’s journey to freedom across a water-starved land—and his mission to save his people.

By Allison Friedman

From the May 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: to identify key ideas and details in a narrative nonfiction article

Lexiles: 960L, 780L

Featured Skill: Key Ideas and Details,

Other Key Skills: figurative language, cause and effect, vocabulary, problem and solution, tone

Listen to this story read aloud.

AS YOU READ

What happens when people do not have access to clean water?

Salva Dut felt like he was walking through fire.

It was late 1985 in Sudan, a country in northeastern Africa. A civil war had engulfed the nation, and like thousands of others, 11-year-old Salva had fled his homeland to escape the fighting. Now Salva and his uncle Jewiir [juh-WEER] were part of a group trekking hundreds of miles toward a refugee camp in the neighboring country of Ethiopia.

But to reach it, they would first have to cross the punishing Akobo desert.

In every direction, flat, dusty land stretched as far as Salva could see. The sun’s heat was so intense that the air was painful to breathe. After weeks of walking, Salva’s shoes had been worn to scraps—so now he walked barefoot, the ground like burning-hot coals on the soles of his feet.

Suddenly, searing pain shot through Salva’s foot. In his exhaustion, he had stubbed his toe against a rock, tearing off the nail. Finally, it was all too much. Tears sprang to Salva’s eyes, and his pace slowed, as if his batteries were running out.

Powerless to call for help, Salva fell behind his uncle and the rest of the group. It seemed his journey might end there—alone, in the middle of the desert, under the harsh and unblinking eye of the sun.

Salva Dut felt like he was walking through fire.

It was 1985 in Sudan, a country in northeastern Africa. A civil war had engulfed the nation. Like thousands of others, 11-year-old Salva had fled his homeland to escape the fighting. Now Salva and his uncle Jewiir [juh-WEER] were part of a group walking hundreds of miles. They were headed toward a refugee camp in Ethiopia, a neighboring country.

But first, they had to cross the Akobo desert.

Flat, dusty land stretched as far as Salva could see. The sun’s heat was so intense that the air was painful to breathe. After weeks of walking, Salva’s shoes had been worn to scraps. Now he walked barefoot. The ground felt like burning-hot coals.

Suddenly, searing pain shot through Salva’s foot. He had stubbed his toe against a rock, tearing off the nail. Finally, it was all too much. Tears sprang to Salva’s eyes. His pace slowed.

Salva fell behind his uncle and the rest of the group. It seemed his journey might end there—alone, in the middle of the desert, under the harsh sun.

A Daily Challenge

Salva had left home just two months earlier. But his old life already seemed a distant memory.

Like most people in Sudan, Salva had grown up in a rural village. His father, Mawien [mah-wee-UHN], was a respected judge and a prosperous farmer. When Salva wasn’t at school, he spent peaceful afternoons helping his father look after their cows and sheep.

Salva’s childhood was happy, yet it wasn’t without challenges. One of the biggest was the lack of clean water. In Salva’s village and across Sudan, most people did not have running water in their homes, or even close by. They couldn’t turn on a faucet when they wanted to get a cool drink, scrub dirty dishes, or wash off after a long day on the farm.

Instead, girls like Salva’s sisters, Agnath [Ag-NAHTH] and Akit [Ah-KEET], had to collect water from ponds and watering holes—shallow pits dug into the earth where water accumulates. Every morning, Agnath and Akit would walk about five miles to a watering hole outside the village. There, the girls would fill large gourds or clay pots and then lug them back home. This task took about 6 hours each day, leaving the girls no time to go to school.

What’s more, the water they brought back was murky and filled with bacteria that often made the family sick. And during the dry season, from about January to April, even that water dried up. So Salva’s family would move to a temporary camp near another source of water. Salva felt homesick leaving the village each year.

He didn’t know he would soon have to leave for good.

Salva had left home just two months earlier. But his old life already seemed a distant memory.

Salva’s childhood was happy. But it wasn’t without challenges. One of the biggest was the lack of clean water. In Salva’s village and across Sudan, most people did not have running water in their homes, or even close by. They couldn’t turn on a faucet for a cool drink or to bathe.

Instead, girls like Salva’s sisters, Agnath [Ag-NAHTH] and Akit [Ah-KEET], had to collect water from ponds and watering holes. Those are shallow pits dug into the earth where water accumulates. Every morning, Agnath and Akit would walk about five miles to a watering hole outside the village. There, the girls would fill large gourds or clay pots. Then they would lug them back home. That took about 6 hours each day. The girls had no time to go to school.

The water they brought back was murky and filled with bacteria. It often made the family sick. The dry season was from about January to April. During that time, the water dried up. So Salva’s family would move to a temporary camp near another source of water. Salva felt homesick leaving the village each year.

He didn’t know he would soon have to leave for good.

The Lost Boys

Salva was 8 when civil war first broke out in Sudan, in 1983. In school, Salva learned that the southern part of the country, where he lived, was fighting to free itself from the government in the north. Most residents of the north were Muslim, and the government wanted to force all the people of Sudan to practice Islam. Residents of the south wanted the freedom to practice their own religions.

For a long time, the war seemed far away—until one day in 1985 when the bloodshed arrived at Salva’s doorstep.

Salva was at school when sharp cracks and pops of gunfire erupted outside. Salva’s teacher rushed the students to the door, telling them to run as far from the fighting as possible.

“Go! All of you, now!” he whispered urgently.

And so, Salva took off, into the unknown dangers of the wilderness. When will I see my family again? he wondered as his feet carried him farther and farther away from the gunfire and bombs.

Across the country, thousands of others were also fleeing the violence. Many were boys and young men like Salva. They faced a particular danger: If they were discovered by the enemy, they would surely be killed—and if they were discovered by their own army, they might be forced to fight as soldiers. Separated from their families, traveling sometimes thousands of miles from home, these young refugees would become known as the Lost Boys of Sudan.

Salva was 8 when civil war first broke out in Sudan, in 1983. Salva lived in the southern part of the country. In school, he learned that the part where he lived was fighting to free itself from the government in the north. Most residents of the north were Muslim. The government wanted to force everyone in Sudan to practice Islam. Residents of the south wanted the freedom to practice their own religions.

For a long time, the war seemed far away. But one day in 1985, the bloodshed arrived at Salva’s doorstep.

Salva was at school. Sharp pops of gunfire erupted outside. Salva’s teacher rushed the students to the door and told them to run as far from the fighting as possible.

“Go! All of you, now!” he whispered urgently.

And so, Salva took off. He ran into the unknown dangers of the wilderness. When will I see my family again? he wondered as he ran farther and farther away from the gunfire and bombs.

Across the country, thousands of others were also fleeing the violence. Many were boys and young men like Salva. If they were discovered by the enemy, they would surely be killed. And if they were discovered by their own army, they might be forced to fight as soldiers. Separated from their families, traveling sometimes thousands of miles from home, these young refugees would become known as the Lost Boys of Sudan.

Just Keep Walking

Eventually, Salva joined up with a group heading to Ethiopia. There, a camp had been set up for refugees from Sudan. As the weeks passed, more and more people joined the group, until there were more than 30 walking together. Then one day, Salva was shocked to spot a familiar face among the growing crowd: Uncle Jewiir, his father’s younger brother.

Salva was overjoyed. Yet even with his uncle there to protect him, the following weeks of endless walking were grueling. Each day brought new hardships—gnawing hunger, swarming mosquitoes, fierce lions prowling around the camp they set up each night.

Still, nothing could have prepared Salva for the merciless intensity of the Akobo desert—how the sun’s scorching rays seemed to suck the life from his body. And now, as he hunched over his throbbing and bloody foot, he felt like the last of his strength had evaporated in the heat.

Just then, his uncle appeared beside him. “Do you see that group of bushes?” Uncle Jewiir asked. “You need only to walk as far as those bushes. Can you do that?”

Salva looked where his uncle was pointing. He could not make it across the entire desert—but he might be able to make it to the bushes.

And, slowly, he did. Next, Uncle Jewiir pointed out some rocks that were just a bit farther. Then an acacia tree. Then a bare patch of sand. Summoning all his strength, Salva managed to reach each new goalpost.

In this way, one slow step after another, Salva kept moving across the hot, dusty landscape.

Eventually, Salva joined up with a group. They were heading to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. As the weeks passed, more and more people joined the group. Then one day, Salva was shocked to spot a familiar face. It was Uncle Jewiir, his father’s younger brother.

Salva was overjoyed. Yet even with his uncle there to protect him, the following weeks of walking were grueling. Each day brought new hardships—hunger, mosquitoes, lions prowling around the camp they set up each night.

Still, nothing could have prepared Salva for the merciless intensity of the Akobo desert. The sun’s scorching rays seemed to suck the life from his body. And now, as he hunched over his bloody foot, he felt like he had no more strength.

But then, his uncle was by his side. “Do you see that group of bushes?” Uncle Jewiir asked. “You need only to walk as far as those bushes. Can you do that?”

Salva looked to where his uncle pointed. He could not make it across the desert. But he might be able to make it to the bushes.

In this way, one slow step after another, Salva kept moving across the hot, dusty landscape.

Shutterstock.com

What To Know

The Crisis of Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is when there isn’t enough clean water to meet people’s needs. It affects millions of people around the world. In some places, water sources have dried up because of persistent drought. In others, water supplies have been contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or toxic chemicals. Fortunately, providing a community with a safe source of water can be as simple as building a well or installing a filter to purify the water. In fact, thanks to such solutions, the number of people without access to clean water has dropped from about 1.2 billion in the year 2000 to about 703 million today.

Shutterstock.com

What To Know

The Crisis of Water Scarcity

A Devastating Loss

After more than two days, the group had nearly made it through the desert. In just days, they would be in Ethiopia, with a shelter over their heads and a nourishing meal in their bellies.

Then suddenly, the hope Salva had begun to feel was shattered by tragedy. Six armed men ambushed the group, stealing what little they had. Worse, Uncle Jewiir was killed during the attack.

The loss of his only family, his protector, was devastating for Salva. Yet he knew Uncle Jewiir would have wanted him to survive—and that made Salva more determined to reach Ethiopia.

With his uncle’s voice in his ear, Salva willed himself to go just a little bit farther. And in early 1986, he finally made it to the refugee camp.

After more than two days, the group had nearly made it through the desert. Soon, they would be in Ethiopia. They would have shelter and food.

Then suddenly, the hope Salva had begun to feel was shattered by tragedy. Six armed men ambushed the group, stealing what little they had. Worse, Uncle Jewiir was killed during the attack.

The loss of his only family was devastating for Salva. Yet he knew Uncle Jewiir would have wanted him to survive. That made Salva more determined to reach Ethiopia.

With his uncle’s voice in his ear, Salva willed himself to go just a little bit farther. And in early 1986, he finally made it to the refugee camp.

Invisible Thread

Courtesy of Moore Family

Salva as a young man in Rochester

Salva spent most of the following decade living in refugee camps in Africa. Then one day, he was told that he was being given permission to move to the United States. He would soon become one of nearly 4,000 Lost Boys who would go on to make a new life in America.

Salva was taken in by a kind family, the Moores, who lived in Rochester, New York. With their help, he slowly settled into his new home. He grew accustomed to the bone-chilling Rochester winters and in time enrolled in college, where he studied business.

Still, he felt an invisible thread tying him to Sudan, tugging at his heart. He no longer hoped to find his family—after many years in refugee camps with no news from them, he had accepted that they must have died in the war, like 2 million other Sudanese people had. Yet Salva still felt he might want to return home someday, that his life and his purpose were there.

One evening in 2002, when Salva was 27, he opened his email and discovered a life-changing message.

It was from a distant cousin, saying that Salva’s father was having surgery at a remote clinic in Sudan. As Salva read his cousin’s words over and over, the incredible truth sank in: His family had found him. And his father was alive!

Salva lived in refugee camps in Africa for nearly 10 years. Then one day, he was given permission to move to the United States. He would soon become one of nearly 4,000 Lost Boys who would go on to make a new life in America.

Salva was taken in by a kind family, the Moores. They lived in Rochester, New York. He slowly settled into his new home and grew accustomed to the bone-chilling Rochester winters. After a while, he enrolled in college. There he studied business.

Still, he felt an invisible thread tying him to Sudan. He accepted that his family must have died in the war, like 2 million other Sudanese people had. But Salva thought about returning home someday. He felt that his life and his purpose were there.

One evening in 2002, when Salva was 27, he opened an email that changed his life.

It was from a distant cousin. It said that Salva’s father was having surgery at a remote clinic in Sudan. Salva read the message over and over. The incredible truth sank in: His family had found him. And his father was alive!

A New Mission

Later that year, Salva arrived at a crowded health clinic in southern Sudan. There, in one of the beds, was his father. Mawien Dut looked older, but still unmistakably like himself.

Salva, however, was greatly changed from the 11-year-old who had fled his home all those years ago. When he greeted his father, the older man frowned at him in confusion.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am Salva,” the young man said, smiling.

Salva watched his father’s expression change from disbelief to recognition—and finally, to joy. Breaking into tears, he pulled Salva into a hug.

Later, Mawien told him that Salva’s mother and three of Salva’s siblings were also alive, though sadly, two of his brothers had been killed in the fighting. The family had assumed that Salva had died too. Mawien sprinkled water on Salva’s head, their people’s way of welcoming someone who has been lost and found again.

As joyful as their reunion was, it was also troubling for Salva. He learned that his father had gotten dangerously sick from drinking contaminated water and had barely made it to the clinic alive. In Rochester, Salva never had to worry about clean water; it flowed freely from the tap.

Salva wished it could be that easy for his family. And by the time he returned to the U.S., he was energized by a new mission: He was going to bring safe water to his homeland.

Later that year, Salva arrived at a clinic in southern Sudan. There, in one of the beds, was his father. Mawien Dut looked older but still like himself.

Salva, however, was greatly changed from the 11-year-old who had fled his home years ago. When he greeted his father, the older man frowned at him in confusion.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am Salva,” the young man said, smiling.

Salva watched his father’s expression change from disbelief to recognition—and finally, to joy. Breaking into tears, he pulled Salva into a hug.

Later, Mawien told him that Salva’s mother and three of Salva’s siblings were also alive. Though sadly, two of his brothers had been killed in the fighting. The family had assumed that Salva had died too. Mawien sprinkled water on Salva’s head. That’s their people’s way of welcoming someone who has been lost and found again.

The reunion was joyful, but it was also troubling for Salva. He learned that his father had gotten dangerously sick from drinking contaminated water. In Rochester, Salva never had to worry about clean water. It flowed freely from the tap.

Salva wished it could be that easy for his family. By the time he returned to the U.S., he was energized by a new mission. He was going to bring safe water to his homeland.

Step by Step

In 2005, the war in Sudan finally ended. Six years later, South Sudan officially broke away from the north, becoming its own country. Still, the years of war, along with severe droughts and floods, have left the nation struggling. Today, according to the United Nations, more than half the people in South Sudan do not have enough food, and nearly 60 percent lack access to clean water.

Salva is working to change that. Shortly after his reunion with his father, he started a nonprofit organization called Water for South Sudan (WFSS). The group travels to remote areas of South Sudan and drills wells deep into the earth, tapping into natural sources of clean water that lie hundreds of feet underground.

Over the past 20years, WFSS has built more than 600 wells, bringing safe water to more than half a million people. The very first of those wells was constructed in Salva’s childhood village.

Villagers there can now access fresh, safe water year-round—with just the push of a hand pump. Girls, who once devoted their days to collecting water, are now able to go to school. The steady source of water has also allowed a health clinic to be built and a bustling food market to spring up. Similar transformations have taken place in hundreds of other villages where WFSS has built wells.

Meanwhile, Salva divides his time between the city of Wau, South Sudan, where the organization is based, and Kampala, Uganda, where his wife and children live. Though his father passed away last year, Salva stays in close touch with his mother and siblings.

The problems South Sudan faces remain daunting. But when Salva begins to feel overwhelmed by all the work that lies ahead, he recalls Uncle Jewiir’s long-ago advice to take things step by step.

One well at a time, Salva hopes to lead his country to a brighter future.

In 2005, the war in Sudan finally ended. Six years later, South Sudan officially broke away from the north, becoming its own country. But the years of war, along with severe droughts and floods, have left the nation struggling. Today, according to the United Nations, more than half the people in South Sudan do not have enough food. Nearly 60 percent lack access to clean water.

Salva is working to change that. Shortly after his reunion with his father, he started a nonprofit organization called Water for South Sudan (WFSS). The group travels to remote areas of South Sudan and drills wells into the earth to tap into natural sources of clean water.

Over the past 20 years, WFSS has built more than 600 wells that bring safe water to more than half a million people. The first of those wells was built in Salva’s childhood village.

Villagers there can now access fresh, safe water all year—with just the push of a hand pump. Girls, who used to spend hours collecting water, are now able to go to school. The steady source of water has also allowed a health clinic to be built and a bustling food market to spring up. Similar changes have taken place in hundreds of other villages where WFSS has built wells.

Meanwhile, Salva divides his time between South Sudan, where the organization is based, and Uganda, where his wife and children live. His father passed away last year. But Salva stays in close touch with his mother and siblings.

The problems South Sudan faces remain daunting. Sometimes Salva feels overwhelmed by all the work that lies ahead. But then he recalls Uncle Jewiir’s long-ago advice to take things step by step.

One well at a time, Salva hopes to lead his country to a brighter future.

Clarion Books

Writing Contest

Create a slideshow or video about the importance of clean water for individuals and communities. Include information about how Salva’s organization is helping to address water scarcity in South Sudan. Entries must be submitted to Water Contest by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Three winners will each get a copy of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.

^{*Entries must be written by a student in grades 4-12 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. See Contest Page for details.}

Writing Contest

^{This article was originally published in the May 2024 issue.}

Audio ()

Activities (11)

Quizzes (1)

Answer Key (1)

Audio ()

Activities (11)

Quizzes (1)

Answer Key (1)

1. Prepare to Read

2. Read and Discuss

3. Write About It

4. Support for Multilingual Learners

5. Connected Reading

Essential Questions: Why do people flee their homelands? What is the importance of access to clean water? What is the power of perseverance?

1. PREPARE TO READ (15 MINUTES)

Do Now (5 minutes)

Project the following on the board:

Each year, an estimated 443 million school days are lost because of ________-related diseases.

Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a ________-related disease. Nearly 1 in 10 people do not have access to clean ________.

If you know the word that fits in all three blanks, write down three things you use it for each day.

Give students a few minutes to respond. (The answer is water.) Invite them to share their lists.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Google Slides version of Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: accustomed, ambushed, contaminated, daunting, merciless, refugees, remote. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Optionally, print the PDF version or share the slideshow link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently before class.

Do Now (5 minutes)

Project the following on the board:

Each year, an estimated 443 million school days are lost because of ________-related diseases.

Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a ________-related disease. Nearly 1 in 10 people do not have access to clean ________.

If you know the word that fits in all three blanks, write down three things you use it for each day.

Give students a few minutes to respond. (The answer is water.) Invite them to share their lists.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Google Slides version of Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: accustomed, ambushed, contaminated, daunting, merciless, refugees, remote. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Optionally, print the PDF version or share the slideshow link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently before class.

2. READ AND DISCUSS (45 MINUTES)

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 4 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to author Allison Friedman read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

In the first line of the article, author Allison Friedman writes, “Salva Dut felt like he was walking through fire.” What literary device is Friedman using here? What effect does it have? What other examples of fire- or heat-related figurative language can you find in the introduction? (figurative language) Friedman is using a simile to describe the unbearable heat of the Akobo desert. This line helps readers understand that Salva is enduring extreme physical and emotional challenges. Other examples of figurative language related to fire or heat include “civil war had engulfed the nation,” “the ground like burning hot-coals,” “searing pain,” and “under the harsh and unblinking eye of the sun.”
Later in the introduction, Friedman writes that Salva and his Uncle Jewiir were trekking toward a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Based on the information in the article, what is a refugee? What is a refugee camp? (vocabulary, key ideas and details) A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their home, for example because of war and violence. Refugees leave everything behind and flee to another country seeking safety and protection. A refugee camp is a place that offers refugees shelter and food.
How did a lack of access to clean water affect Salva’s family? (cause and effect) A lack of access to clean water forced Salva’s family to leave their home during every dry season and live in a camp that was closer to a source of water. During the rainy season, Salva’s sisters had to devote their entire days to collecting water from a source 5 miles away, which meant they were not able to attend school as Salva did. The water they managed to collect contained bacteria and often made the family sick. Salva’s father nearly died from a water-borne illness.
Based on the information in the article, come up with a definition for civil war and explain what caused the civil war in Sudan. (vocabulary, key ideas and details) A civil war is a conflict that happens within a country between different groups of people who live there. In other words, instead of two separate countries fighting each other, it’s a fight happening within one country. In Sudan, civil war broke out because the people in the south wanted to free themselves from the government of the north, which was trying to take away their freedom of religion.
What role did Uncle Jewiir play in helping Salva survive the journey? (key ideas and details) Uncle Jewiir helped protect Salva during their dangerous journey to the refugee camp in Ethiopia. Most importantly, he taught Salva to persevere by getting him to focus on achieving a series of small goals and to never give up, no matter how difficult the challenges he faced were. After Uncle Jewiir’s death, it was the memory of his hopefulness and perseverance that gave Salva the determination to keep moving toward Ethiopia.
How is Salva helping to solve the problem of water scarcity? What other problems will his work help to solve? (problem and solution) Salva started a nonprofit organization that builds wells in rural areas in South Sudan. The organization trains communities to maintain and repair those wells so that they have a long-term, year-round source of clean water. As a result, people can easily have a drink, wash their dishes, and bathe. People will no longer fall ill from drinking contaminated water, girls can attend school instead of spending their days trekking to collect water, and communities will flourish. Clean water has led to the construction of vital community resources such as food markets and health clinics in hundreds of villages where Salva’s organization has built wells.
What is Friedman’s tone as she discusses South Sudan in the final section of the article? How does Friedman create this tone? (tone) Friedman’s tone is optimistic. After addressing the ongoing challenges South Sudan faces, she describes Salva’s efforts to make a positive difference and the profound accomplishments of his organization. The final lines refers to Uncle Jewiir’s advice and guidance, conveying hope and a sense of determination.

As a class, discuss the following questions.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

In what ways, if any, do you think differently about water after reading this article? Answers will vary.
Why is it important to learn about refugees? Students may say that it is important to learn about refugees because refugees are people in crisis who need help. Learning more about their lives can evoke empathy and kindle support.

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 4 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to author Allison Friedman read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

In the first line of the article, author Allison Friedman writes, “Salva Dut felt like he was walking through fire.” What literary device is Friedman using here? What effect does it have? What other examples of fire- or heat-related figurative language can you find in the introduction? (figurative language) Friedman is using a simile to describe the unbearable heat of the Akobo desert. This line helps readers understand that Salva is enduring extreme physical and emotional challenges. Other examples of figurative language related to fire or heat include “civil war had engulfed the nation,” “the ground like burning hot-coals,” “searing pain,” and “under the harsh and unblinking eye of the sun.”
Later in the introduction, Friedman writes that Salva and his Uncle Jewiir were trekking toward a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Based on the information in the article, what is a refugee? What is a refugee camp? (vocabulary, key ideas and details) A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their home, for example because of war and violence. Refugees leave everything behind and flee to another country seeking safety and protection. A refugee camp is a place that offers refugees shelter and food.
How did a lack of access to clean water affect Salva’s family? (cause and effect) A lack of access to clean water forced Salva’s family to leave their home during every dry season and live in a camp that was closer to a source of water. During the rainy season, Salva’s sisters had to devote their entire days to collecting water from a source 5 miles away, which meant they were not able to attend school as Salva did. The water they managed to collect contained bacteria and often made the family sick. Salva’s father nearly died from a water-borne illness.
Based on the information in the article, come up with a definition for civil war and explain what caused the civil war in Sudan. (vocabulary, key ideas and details) A civil war is a conflict that happens within a country between different groups of people who live there. In other words, instead of two separate countries fighting each other, it’s a fight happening within one country. In Sudan, civil war broke out because the people in the south wanted to free themselves from the government of the north, which was trying to take away their freedom of religion.
What role did Uncle Jewiir play in helping Salva survive the journey? (key ideas and details) Uncle Jewiir helped protect Salva during their dangerous journey to the refugee camp in Ethiopia. Most importantly, he taught Salva to persevere by getting him to focus on achieving a series of small goals and to never give up, no matter how difficult the challenges he faced were. After Uncle Jewiir’s death, it was the memory of his hopefulness and perseverance that gave Salva the determination to keep moving toward Ethiopia.
How is Salva helping to solve the problem of water scarcity? What other problems will his work help to solve? (problem and solution) Salva started a nonprofit organization that builds wells in rural areas in South Sudan. The organization trains communities to maintain and repair those wells so that they have a long-term, year-round source of clean water. As a result, people can easily have a drink, wash their dishes, and bathe. People will no longer fall ill from drinking contaminated water, girls can attend school instead of spending their days trekking to collect water, and communities will flourish. Clean water has led to the construction of vital community resources such as food markets and health clinics in hundreds of villages where Salva’s organization has built wells.
What is Friedman’s tone as she discusses South Sudan in the final section of the article? How does Friedman create this tone? (tone) Friedman’s tone is optimistic. After addressing the ongoing challenges South Sudan faces, she describes Salva’s efforts to make a positive difference and the profound accomplishments of his organization. The final lines refers to Uncle Jewiir’s advice and guidance, conveying hope and a sense of determination.

As a class, discuss the following questions.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

In what ways, if any, do you think differently about water after reading this article? Answers will vary.
Why is it important to learn about refugees? Students may say that it is important to learn about refugees because refugees are people in crisis who need help. Learning more about their lives can evoke empathy and kindle support.

3. WRITE ABOUT IT: KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS (45 MINUTES)

Have students complete the Featured Skill Activity: Key Ideas and Details. This activity prepares them to respond to the writing prompt on page 9 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page:

Alternatively, have students choose a task from the Choice Board, a menu of possible culminating tasks. (Our Choice Board options include the writing prompt from the magazine, differentiated versions of the writing prompt, and additional creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a story or article.)

Have students complete the Featured Skill Activity: Key Ideas and Details. This activity prepares them to respond to the writing prompt on page 9 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page:

Alternatively, have students choose a task from the Choice Board, a menu of possible culminating tasks. (Our Choice Board options include the writing prompt from the magazine, differentiated versions of the writing prompt, and additional creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a story or article.)

4. SUPPORT FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS

These questions are designed to help students respond to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Ask students to demonstrate comprehension with a very simple answer.

Is South Sudan in Africa? Yes, it is.
Did Salva stay in his village throughout the civil war? No, he didn’t.
Did Salva attend school? Yes, he did.
Did Salva’s sisters attend school? No, they didn’t.
Did Salva’s group make it to the refugee camp in Ethiopia? Yes, they did.

Either/Or Questions

Encourage students to use language from the question in their answer.

Were people in Sudan at war with each other or with another country? People in Sudan were at war with each other.
Is the Akobo desert cool and moist or hot and dry? The Akobo desert is hot and dry.
Did Salva grow up in a big city or a rural village? Salva grew up in a rural village.
Is Salva part of the Dinka tribe or the Nuer tribe? Salva is part of the Dinka tribe.
How many boys fled the violence in Sudan, 30 or 20,000? Twenty-thousand boys fled the violence in Sudan.

Short-Answer Questions

Challenge students to produce simple answers on their own.

Why did the people of southern Sudan want to free themselves from the government of the north? The government of the north wanted to take away the freedom of people in the south to practice their own religions. The government wanted everyone to practice Islam.
How is Salva bringing safe water to his homeland? Salva started an organization that builds wells in rural villages in South Sudan. The organization trains the people who live in those villages to maintain and repair the wells so that they will always have clean water.

Language-Acquisition Springboard: Fill in the five “W” words while reading, then use the answers to generate questions after reading.

Who? (Which person or people is this article mainly about?) Salva Dut
What? (What event does this article describe?) Salva’s journey from Sudan to a refugee camp in Ethiopia
When? (At what time did this event occur?) 1985–1986
Where? (In what place or location did this event take place?) what is now South Sudan, a country in northeastern Africa
Why? (What was the cause of this event?) The government in the north of Sudan wanted the whole country to practice Islam, but the residents of the south wanted to practice their own religions. For this reason, the south wanted to break free from the north. A civil war broke out and made Salva’s home village unsafe.