VCT story book

The Curse of
Red Water

There once was a village called Mali, where the land was dry, the wind was harsh and the water was
red.
Few people survived in the village every year, mostly middle aged or old people, children are rare to
be found.
A dry land of survivors bearing a curse over their head..
It is a true blessing if the children in the village survived after the age of 5.

There are only few couple with live children in the village.
Among them, Margret and Melvin were a young couple who were blessed
with a baby girl, Martha, and they led a happy life.
They survived by feeding cattle, agriculture and other works.
Their day begins by Margret and Martha walking long distance for about
three hours through the dry land to collect water from the red pond, where
the water is red.
While Melvin worked on the field and took care of cattles, Margret is busy
with the houshold chores and water collection and storage.

Martha is four yeras old, sweet and cheerful girl, who love to play with her friends in the village.
One day, Martha was playing with her friends under The Old Tree which is a bit far from the vil-
lage and while playing, Martha fainted.
The children were panicked, and they ran screaming to the village for help.
Margret rushed towrds the Old tree, Melvin ran to the Village Healer.
The Healer examined Martha and whispered...

The Curse.....

Melvin and Margret collapsed in a sobbing heap at the Martha beside Martha’s numb and feverish
body.
What do we do ?.. How will we save our child ?... They sobbed.
“Nobody ever survived this fatal curse”, said The Healer while applying some natural herb mix on
Martha’s forehead.
“The fever will last for two weeks, herbs might save her, but if she doesn’t wake up within 2 weeks,
then..... There’s no hope”, added the Healer.

Miracle....

Three days passed, there is no improvement in Martha’s condition. Villegers helped them in
fetching water, and cooking food.
Melvin went to near by villages and forest to collect medicinal herbs and roots for Martha.
On his way, Melvin heard about the city people who visited a near by village, who wore
Good cloths, bright and long clothes and unknown and mysterious objects and boxes and
containers.
Melvin discussed to Margret about the news, and decided to meet those city people for help.

Next day Melvin travelled miles in search of those people with mystery boxes and contain-
ers.
The light started to fade , but melvin couldn’t find them.
He started to look for them again, determined to save his child...

Hours lates, Melvin heard feable voice of people talking and laughing.
He ran towards the direction of the voice.
In the woods, through the bushes, he saw a light, smoke and tent.
He sighed, “My child”.
He approached them slowly, with worn out legs, week arms, tired face and dried throat.
Melvin called out to them,

Help!...

The men saw Melvin and helped him get up and sit properly.
They offered him an unfamiliar liquid, clear like tears.
Melvin : Medicine? will it save my child ?
The men were confused, they asked him, “what’s going on?
We could help you, What happend to your child? Tell us”

Melvin told them about the curse and his child’s condition.
The men said, We are medical students from the City, we are here for collecting some herbs
and study the natural healing techniques. We can help you.

WaterPlease calm down and have some...

Water?!
Melvin was shook. But where is water ? Whats in this vessel ?
The men said, it’s water in the vessel, have it you’ll feel better.

Melvin looked into the vessel, he could see his reflection on the water.

redWhy is it like tears, our water is...

The stusdents were confused, your Water is Red ?
Yes.

Safe Water.Okay, this is our water, its clear, you can have it without fear. Its

Safe water !
Melvin sipped the water, he could neither smell nor taste the water, its clear and tasteless and
odourless.
Not muddy, not thick
No taste, no odour
Clear and pure
Fresh and refreshing
This is Water...
His mind was full of doubts and questions.. He wanted to ask, but...
Rest well, let’s see your child tomorrow, said one student.

Early morning, they woke up and prepared to leave.
Melvin guided the students through the shortcut
They reached the village by evening.
Everyone stared at the students who came with Melvin
They can save Martha, He said.
They rushed to Melvin’s hut.
Mathra....
Margret look at Melvin, “save Martha.....”
The students checked Martha... dehydrated, pale, week and anemic body..
“Water”, Martha whispered
Margret poured Red water for Martha

The student took his bottle and dripped it for Martha...
Villegers were discussing in amusement of the unfamiliar liquid, which they fed as ‘water’ to
Martha.
The students introduced themselves, and asked the villegers about thier Red Water.
They asked Margret to stop feeding Martha with Red Water, as it’s not

SAFE WATER

The students helped them with getting better healthcare and medicines for Martha from the
city. And reported the unsafe water conditions of villegers to the concerned authorities.

Martha, recovered from the fever,
THE MIRACLE happened

curseThe first child ever to survive the

The Healthcare workers checked the red water, which is unsafe for drinking.
It was full of mud, bacteria and other contaminents.
And the villegers never knew what’s SAFE WATER or the WATER
The students said, the workers will provide them with SAFE WATER, and adviced them not to
take the RED WATER.

The students prepared to return to the city by helping the whole villegers and Martha, by giving
them the blessing they missed for generation....
SAFE WATER..

Through the health workers, the village got a

WELL and TAP

Where they get SAFE WATER
Water with out color, odour, taste...
Where you can see yourself a bit more clearer than ever.

Now they dont need to travel far for water, they have their own water....

SAFE WATER

Villegers considered Martha as a true blessing, who brought SAFE WATER
to the village....

The one who survived the Curse..
The one who brought the blessing...
The one to be saved by true Gods...
The one to save the next generations from perishing young
The one who help them to stay healthy for the rest of thier life
The one to bring access to

Clean Water and Water Services

The villagers realized...

The CURSE was the RED WATER itself....

and the BLESSING is SAFE and CLEAN WATER

The End

CREDITS : Inspired from the Story of End Waterborne Illnesses for Young

Children in Ethiopia Project by LifeWater.org

https://lifewater.org/project/end-water-
borne-illnesses-for-young-children/