Thursday, November 12, 2009

A Future That Floats

When Mohammed Rezwan was a kid, his school used to close for three or four months every year. The break was not an extra-long summer vacation. School was closed because of floods.
Rezwan grew up in Bangladesh, where floods are common. The floods stop many kids from completing their education. Rezwan finished school. But he never forgot his friends who did not.

He wanted to make it possible for kids in his country to go to school year-round. "If the kids cannot go to school, why don't we bring the school to them?" he recalls thinking.

Rezwan decided to build boat schools that can reach students even during a flood. Each boat has a classroom, a library and computers.

Losing Ground
The people of Bangladesh are used to floods. Every summer, heavy rains hit the Asian country. Rain fills the rivers, and they overflow onto the land. Lately, the floods have gotten worse.
Scientists say the Earth is getting warmer. That is making mountain glaciers near Bangladesh melt. The melted ice causes even more floods.

Experts believe that by 2050, one-fifth of Bangladesh could be covered with water. Millions of people would have nowhere to live.


Hope for the Future
Rezwan is not letting the problems slow him down. Instead, he is coming up with more solutions. He has built library boats, hospital boats and houseboats. All of them run on solar power.
Rezwan is doing all that he can to help his country. People outside of Bangladesh can lend a hand too. "Kids in the U.S. can focus on using less energy," he says. "It will help countries that are suffering because of climate change."

Living in one of the rainiest spots in the world has it’s problems. Scientists are predicting that the flooding will get worse. Can you sum up this article in a 2-3 sentence summary?

3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I think that is sad. I hope the people are still alive. I hope the plain works. I hope the school doesn’t sink. I hope Rezwen is still alive. By Sebastian and Lance

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  3. It’s sad to hear that Bangladesh is having floods every summer. Buts its smart that Rezwan invented boats for schools,hospitals,etc. I hope Bangladesh doesn’t sink. Kritika Jain

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