Every Drop Counts: Short Stories on Global Water and Sanitation Issues

Educating young adults (ages 10-16) in the United States on global water and sanitation issues requires using various resources. Lectures loaded with facts and figures are not engaging enough for young students. A tool for hooking young students‟ curiosity on an environmental topic is through stories. Once they show interest to the issues and formulate emotional responses as well as critical thoughts, facts and figures would become more tangible. This creative project includes short stories that were based on interviews from water professionals, volunteers, and those who experienced water burdens in their childhood. Young readers are encouraged to think critically while reading the stories through the questions asked. These stories serve to grab young students‟ attention to global water issues and to inspire them to volunteer in their communities or in organizations. These stories are best used in conjunction with lessons or lectures on environmental advocacy, policy, and studies dealing with water and sanitation issues.