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What it's like growing up in the Big Dry in Australia

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An Australian farmer looking out over his drought-stricken farm.
An Australian farmer looking out over his drought-stricken farm.

While Cape Town's dams are looking better after a particularly wet winter season, the water restrictions haven't yet been lifted since authorities don't know what rainfall to expect in the year to come. And some other parts of the country, even farms three hours outside of Cape Town, are still suffering from severe water shortages, with livestock being hit particularly hard. Read more about South Africa's water crisis on News24.

Of course, South Africa is not the only country experiencing a water crisis – countries across the world are running out of fresh drinking water as the world's population is growing, and climate change is affecting weather patterns.

In this short video (watch above), school children from a farming community in New South Wales, Australia, share what impact the two-year-long drought Down Under has had on their daily lives.

Since the grass has turned to dust, cattle and horses need to be manually fed by the farmer and his family, which cut short the children's time for homework, sports and play, and even sleep.

Add to that the emotional toll of seeing less of their fathers, out on land trying to salvage the business, and watching their family's livestock become thin and emaciated before their eyes. That's something generations of South Africans have experienced too.


How has South Africa's drought affected your family and specifically your children? Please share your stories with Parent24 and we may publish them – anonymously if you wish. Send to chatback@parent24.com


Here's how to help your children deal with trauma:

Trauma and children: when bad stuff happens

How parents can support children through traumatic events

Also read these articles about how your family can save water:

When the taps run dry: what is your family's plan to cope with severe water shortage?

WATCH: Let's calculate how much water your family and Bullet the Dog is actually using per day!

13 weird but absolutely necessary ways to save water

Water crisis: cloth vs disposable nappies

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