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Decision Decision dɪˈsɪʒən

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Vusi Malindi

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 2

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Autoplay story


My village had many problems. We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.

My village had many problems. We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.

ˈmaɪ ˈvɪɫədʒ ˈhæd ˈmɛni ˈpɹɑbɫəmz ˈwi ˈmeɪd ˈeɪ ˈɫɔŋ ˈɫaɪn ˈtu ˈfɛtʃ ˈwɔtɝ ˈfɹəm ˈwən ˈtæp


We waited for food donated by others.

We waited for food donated by others.

ˈwi ˈweɪtɪd ˈfɔɹ ˈfud ˈdoʊˌneɪtɪd ˈbaɪ ˈəðɝz


We locked our houses early because of thieves.

We locked our houses early because of thieves.

ˈwi ˈɫɑkt ˈaʊɝ ˈhaʊsəz ˈɝɫi bɪˈkɑz ˈəv ˈθivz


Many children dropped out of school.

Many children dropped out of school.

ˈmɛni ˈtʃɪɫdɹən ˈdɹɑpt ˈaʊt ˈəv ˈskuɫ


Young girls worked as maids in other villages.

Young girls worked as maids in other villages.

ˈjəŋ ˈɡɝɫz ˈwɝkt ˈæz ˈmeɪdz ˈɪn ˈəðɝ ˈvɪɫədʒəz


Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.

Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.

ˈjəŋ ˈbɔɪz ˈɹoʊmd ɝˈaʊn ˈðə ˈvɪɫədʒ ˈhwaɪɫ ˈəðɝz ˈwɝkt ˈɑn ˈpipəɫz ˈfɑɹmz


When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.

When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.

ˈhwɛn ˈðə ˈwaɪnd ˈbɫu ˈweɪst ˈpeɪpɝ ˈhəŋ ˈɑn ˈtɹiz ˈænd ˈfɛnsəz


People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.

People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.

ˈpipəɫ ˈwɝ ˈkət ˈbaɪ ˈbɹoʊkən ˈɡɫæs ˈðæt ˈwɑz ˈθɹoʊn ˈkɛɹɫəsɫi


Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.

Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.

ˈðɛn ˈwən ˈdeɪ ˈðə ˈtæp ˈdɹaɪd ˈəp ˈænd ˈaʊɝ kənˈteɪnɝz ˈwɝ ˈɛmpti


My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.

My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.

ˈmaɪ ˈfɑðɝ ˈwɔkt ˈfɹəm ˈhaʊs ˈtu ˈhaʊs ˈæskɪŋ ˈpipəɫ ˈtu əˈtɛnd ˈeɪ ˈvɪɫədʒ ˈmitɪŋ


People gathered under a big tree and listened.

People gathered under a big tree and listened.

ˈpipəɫ ˈɡæðɝd ˈəndɝ ˈeɪ ˈbɪɡ ˈtɹi ˈænd ˈɫɪsənd


My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”

My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”

ˈmaɪ ˈfɑðɝ ˈstʊd ˈəp ˈænd ˈsɛd ˈwi ˈnid ˈtu ˈwɝk təˈɡɛðɝ ˈtu ˈsɑɫv ˈaʊɝ ˈpɹɑbɫəmz


Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”

Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”

ˈeɪtjɪɹˌoʊɫd @juma ˈsɪtɪŋ ˈɑn ˈeɪ ˈtɹi ˈtɹəŋk ˈʃaʊtɪd ˈaɪ ˈkæn ˈhɛɫp ˈwɪð ˈkɫinɪŋ ˈəp


One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”

One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”

ˈwən ˈwʊmən ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈwɪmən ˈkæn ˈdʒɔɪn ˈmi ˈtu ˈɡɹoʊ ˈfud


Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”

Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”

əˈnəðɝ ˈmæn ˈstʊd ˈəp ˈænd ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈmɛn ˈwɪɫ ˈdɪɡ ˈeɪ ˈwɛɫ


We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.” From that day we worked together to solve our problems.

We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.” From that day we worked together to solve our problems.

ˈwi ˈɔɫ ˈʃaʊtɪd ˈwɪð ˈwən ˈvɔɪs ˈwi ˈməst ˈtʃeɪndʒ ˈaʊɝ ˈɫaɪvz ˈfɹəm ˈðæt ˈdeɪ ˈwi ˈwɝkt təˈɡɛðɝ ˈtu ˈsɑɫv ˈaʊɝ ˈpɹɑbɫəmz


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level 2
Source: Decision from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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