Students learning about giving through Pennies for Peace program
“It is better to give than to receive.”
Students at Caledonia Area Middle School are learning that important lesson during the Christmas season. The local sixth, seventh and eighth graders are participating in the Pennies for Peace (P4P) program, which raised more than $900,000 world-wide in 2008, one penny at a time. The money helps the Central Asia Institute build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
P4P was inspired by author/humanitarian Greg Mortenson, who was born in Minnesota. Mortenson’s very popular book “Three Cups of Tea” describes his transition from a mountain-climber to a humanitarian committed to reducing poverty and educating girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He did this by co-founding the Central Asia Institute, which has built over 131 schools in the most remote areas of the countries, educating over 58,000 students.
The book’s title comes from a Balti proverb: “The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family.”
CAMS teacher Barb Rollins and her students got acquainted with Mortenson when they viewed a webcast that originated from Viterbo University in La Crosse on Sept. 28. Mortenson travels all over the world, promoting his mission in life to better educate the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“When I heard Mortenson was going to be speaking at Viterbo, I checked into available space, and learned all the seats were committed,” Rollins recalled. There was such an interest in the author, the organizers of the event decided to include a webcast, which was viewed by students throughout the tri-state area.
Through a Warrior Mini Grant from the District 299 Foundation, Rollins was able to purchase a set of Mortenson’s best selling book for her reading class. Her middle school reading classes are currently enjoying the book, which describes Mortenson’s mountain-climbing adventures and near-tragic mis-adventure when he attempted to climb K2, the second tallest mountain in the world in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan.
After more than 70 days on the mountain, Mortenson and three other climbers had their ascent interrupted to complete a 75-hour life-saving rescue of a fifth climber. After getting lost during his descent, he became weak, exhausted and by chance, alone. Instead of arriving in Askole where his porters awaited, Mortenson came across Korphe, a small village built on a shelf jutting out from a canyon. He was greeted and taken in by the chief elder of Korphe.
To repay the remote community for its hospitality, Mortenson promised to build a school for the village.
This all happened nearly 20 years ago in 1992. Since then Mortenson and Christiane Leitinger founded the Central Asia Institute (CAI).
P4P isn’t just about raising money for needy children half a world away. It is intended to also broaden students’ cultural horizons and teach them about the ability to help create change and build bridges in the global community.
In an article about the P4P program, Leitinger said “Teachers are often looking for a way to educate their students about a part of the world that many students may not be able to find on a map. As they participate in P4P, children gain a broader understanding of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Rollins agreed with Leitinger’s assessment and added, right now when there is so much in the news about America’s involvement in both counties, reading this book gives her students a much better insight and perspective.
And during the season of giving, what better way to learn that it is better to give than to receive?
(c) The Caledonia Argus 2009
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