环球英语 — 197：Ryan’s Well

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight¹. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Ryan Hreljac sat in his school classroom in Kemptville, Canada. He was just six years old. He listened closely² to his teacher. His school was collecting money for people in Africa. His teacher explained that many people in the world did not have medicine or clean water. Hundreds of thousands of African children die each year, because of diseases³ in dirty water. Ryan’s teacher told the class that sixty [60] cents could buy a two months supply of medicine for a child. Seventy [70] dollars would pay for a well. A well would give clean drinking water to a whole village.
Voice 2
When Ryan heard this, he knew that he had to do something. Even though he was only six years old, he would change thousands of lives. Today’s Spotlight is on Ryan Hreljac and his work to provide clean water for everyone in the world.
Voice 1
When Ryan returned home that day, he ran to his parents. He asked for seventy dollars for a well. His mother told him that seventy dollars was a lot of money. His family did not have seventy extra dollars. But Ryan kept asking his mother. He asked with tears in his eyes. He told his mother that children were dying⁴. They did not have clean water. His mother understood that Ryan was serious. So she thought of a way for him to help.
Voice 2
Ryan’s mother said that if Ryan did extra jobs around the house, she would pay him money. He could save this money for the well. While his brothers and friends played outside, Ryan worked hard in the house. He worked at his grandfather’s house too. Ryan put all the money into a can. He saved for months. When the money collection at school ended, Ryan had saved thirty-five [35] dollars. But the well cost seventy [70] dollars, so Ryan continued to save.
Voice 1
When Ryan collected the seventy dollars, he brought it to an aid organization called WaterCan. The people at WaterCan knew how hard Ryan had worked. They were very happy to receive the money. But they told Ryan that seventy dollars could only buy a water pump. A well would cost two thousand [2,000] dollars.
Voice 2
The Canadian International Development Agency⁵ gives two dollars for every dollar WaterCan receives. Ryan had to collect around seven hundred [700] dollars to get enough money for a well. He knew that this was a lot of money. But Ryan decided⁶ to do his best and keep saving⁷. Ryan continued to work around the house.
Voice 1
Ryan’s mother was very happy about her son’s hard work. She told her friends and family about it. She told them about the problem of dirty water, and about Ryan’s strong feelings about it. Those friends started telling other friends. Soon, Ryan’s story was in newspapers and magazines. Many more people learned⁸ about Ryan, and about the problem of dirty water.
Voice 2
Then one day, Ryan’s mother received a telephone call. A worker from WaterCan said that people had given more than seven hundred dollars for Ryan’s well. They invited Ryan to meet Gizaw Shibru. He worked in Uganda with the aid organization Canadian Physicians⁹ for Aid and Relief. Gizaw Shibru thanked Ryan for his work. He told Ryan about the community using Ryan’s well. But then he told Ryan and his mother about a special tool, a drill¹⁰. This drill could dig¹¹ many more wells, but it cost a lot of money. The drill cost twenty five thousand [25,000] dollars.
Voice 1
Ryan answered quickly. He said that he would collect the money for the drill. It was a lot of money. But Ryan was not worried. He wanted everyone in Africa to have clean water. So the Hreljacs started collecting again. A large newspaper wrote a story about Ryan. Ryan even appeared on a television news program. Soon, letters arrived in the mail. People were sending money for the drill.
Voice 2
In two months, Ryan collected seven thousand [7,000] dollars. And in about a year, the Hreljac’s had all the money for the drill. But now, Ryan had another plan. He wanted to visit the people in Uganda who used his well. But Ryan was still very young. And the trip to Uganda was very expensive. The Hreljac’s knew that they would have to wait.
Voice 1
But a family that lived near the Hreljac’s had a different idea. They offered to help Ryan fly to Uganda. Soon other people were offering¹² help as well. Six months later, the Hreljacs were on an airplane to Africa.
Voice 2
On July 27, 2000, they arrived in Uganda. Ryan’s well was in the village of Angolo in Northern Uganda. This was a long drive from Kampala. As the Hreljac’s came close to Angolo, they saw children jumping up and down. The children were shouting Ryan’s name. Ryan was so surprised! But it was not just children who knew of Ryan. Thousands of people who lived near the village knew of Ryan and his well.
Voice 1
That day, people from many close villages came to meet Ryan. They told him that children in the village were healthy. This was because of the clean water. Ryan could see the difference in the community. The villagers celebrated¹³ with Ryan and his family for many hours that day.
Voice 2
The Hreljac’s returned to their home. But they did not forget the community in Uganda. Ryan understood how important the well was. And just like before, Ryan started saving again. But this time he wanted to do even more.
Voice 1
In 2001, the Hreljacs decided to start an organization to provide clean water for people all around the world. They called the organization Ryan’s Well Foundation¹⁴. Ryan and his parents worked with other aid organizations. Together, they have collected over one million [1,000,000] dollars to provide clean water. The organization has provided¹⁵ over one hundred thirty [130] wells in nine countries in Africa and South America.
Voice 2
But Ryan does more than just collect money. Ryan travels around the world to tell people about the problems of unclean water. He tells people how clean water can change communities. He explains how particular diseases can become less common with just one well in a community.
Voice 1
One well can change the lives of many people. And Ryan shows that one person can also change the lives of many people. Ryan continues to work very hard to change people’s lives. He hopes that someday all people in the world can have clean water. And Ryan is helping¹⁶ this to happen one well at a time.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

3 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

4 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

5 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

8 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

9 physicians   

医生，内科医生( physician的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar. 对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• I have had myself carefully examined by physicians. 我已请医生给我仔细检查过了。

10 drill   

v.练习；操练；钻孔；n.操练；练习；钻孔(机)

参考例句：

• He used a drill to bore a hole in the door.他用钻在门上钻孔。
• You should drill some manners into the boy.你应该教这孩子懂点礼貌。

11 dig   

v.挖（洞，沟等）；掘

参考例句：

• It is difficult to dig the ground when it is frozen.地面冻住了就不易挖掘。
• In those days we often went to dig for wild vegetables.那时候我们常常出去挖野菜。

12 offering   

n.提供，奉献物，牲礼

参考例句：

• What is your competition offering?你的竞争者提出的条件是什么？
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

13 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

14 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

15 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

16 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。