BEACON FALLS — When Woodland Regional High School senior Alicia Rafferty was first introduced to the children’s book, “A Thirst for Home,” the story immediately captured her.
The story tells the tale of a young Ethiopian girl who lives in a poor village with her mother. The girl must walk miles for clean water and is often hungry due to lack of food. She is eventually adopted by an American family after her mother leaves her at an orphanage in hopes for a better life.
The book was written by Christine Ieromino of Plymouth, who adopted an Ethiopian girl eight years ago, and is based on real-life events.
Aside from an emotional connection, the story also has a personal tie for Rafferty. Her older sister, Shannon, is currently in Ethiopia on a mission for the Peace Corps. So, tying “A Thirst for Home” into her senior project was a natural fit for Rafferty.
Rafferty organized separate programs last week at Algonquin School in Prospect and Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls.
On Sept. 25, about two dozen Laurel Ledge students filled the music room as Ieromino read her book to them. After the story time, the children rotated through three stations for separate programs based on the book.
In one station students drew reflections of themselves with a thought to the future or the unknown. Reflections are a theme throughout the book.
In the next classroom, students walked in the shoes of the book’s main character. Children walked a short distance carrying water to give them a slight idea of just how many miles children in Ethiopia have to walk to get clean water.
Across the hall, children made superhero armbands. The point of this station was to symbolize that anyone in the community can be hero.
Rafferty said she thought it would be great to involve children in her project. She wanted to help the children realize how lucky they are and to impress upon them that even though they are young, they can help people that are less fortunate than them.
“I hope they gain a passion to help other people,” Rafferty said.
