My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
我的村庄面临很多问题。村里只有一个水龙头，我们每天都要排很长的队伍去接水。
We waited for food donated by others.
我们等着别人接济食物给我们吃。
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
每天晚上，我们因为害怕有小偷，所以都早早地锁上了门。
Many children dropped out of school.
中途辍学的孩子也不少。
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
年轻的女孩被迫到别的村庄去做女佣。
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
年轻的男孩不是成天在村子里游荡，就是到别人的农场里打工。
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
起风的时候，废纸到处乱飞，挂在树梢和篱笆上。
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
碎玻璃扔得到处都是，很多人都被碎玻璃划伤了。
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
终于有一天，水龙头干涸了，人们接不到水了。
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
我的爸爸一家一家地劝说，召集村里的居民们开会。
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
人们聚到一棵大树下，准备开会。
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
我爸爸站起来，说：“我们必须团结起来，一起解决我们的问题。”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
八岁的珠玛坐在树干上，大声说：“我可以帮忙清理村庄。”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
一个女人站起来说：“我可以找一些妇女，一起种庄稼。”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
又有一个男人站起来说：“男人们可以帮着打井。”
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
我们异口同声地说：“我们必须改变我们的生活。”从那天开始，大伙儿都齐心协力，解决问题。
