Pennies for Peace

Pennies for Peace is a program sponsored by the Central Asia Institute (CAI) that "helps educate American children about the world to show them they can make a difference one penny at a time." [ [http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/BUSINESS/803040323/1046/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 "Students give to Pennies for Peace"] , Pat Ferrier, "The Coloradoran," March 4, 2008] The program focuses on raising cross-cultural awareness through education to promote peace. [ [http://www.independentreview.net/news/litchfield-schools/promoting-peace-one-penny-time-2733 "Promoting peace one penny at a time"] , Kristin Holtz, "Litchfield Independent Press," March 25, 2008]

Pennies for Peace was launched by CAI executive director Greg Mortenson to raise funds for rural schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. [ [http://www.startribune.com/local/north/16167092.html "Pocket change for social change"] , Lora Pabst, "Minneapolis Star Tribune", March 5, 2008] Mortenson is the co-author of the "New York Times" bestseller, "Three Cups of Tea." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/books/bestseller/0316bestpapernonfiction.html?scp=1&sq=three+cups+of+tea&st=nyt "Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers"] , "The New York Times", March 16, 2008] [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/03/03/three.cups/ "American mountaineer fights Taliban with books, not bombs"] , John Blake, "CNN International", March 3, 2008] [ [http://www.penniesforpeace.org/Articles/2007/11-19-07ThePalyVoice.htm "Famous author, humanitarian visits Paly"] , Megha Ram, "The Paly Voice" (Palo Alto, CA), November 19, 2007]

The idea behind the Pennies for Peace program is that in industrialized nations, "a penny is pretty much worthless, but in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan a penny can buy a lot. With one single penny, schools can buy a student a pencil. With a pencil, the student can become literate and educated." [ [http://www.michigansthumb.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19366055&BRD=2292&PAG=461&dept_id=499796&rfi=6 "Pennies being collected for the schools in Central Asia"] , "The Huron Daily Tribune", March 6, 2008] Mortenson believes he can promote peace through education, especially the education of girls, because: "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual; if you educate a girl, you educate a community." [ [http://www.fairfieldcitizen-news.com/local/ci_8489983 "Educating the World One Step at a Time"] , Alison Walkley, "Fairfield Citizen News", March 7, 2008]

Pennies for Peace is based in Evergreen, Colorado, and as of February 2008, had raised over eight million pennies since its inception in 1994. [ [http://www.penniesforpeace.org/Articles/2008/02-09-08IdahoStatesman.htm "Author builds schools by pinching pennies - Students donate coins for classrooms in Pakistan, Afghanistan"] , Anna Webb, "Idaho Statesman", February 9, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.penniesforpeace.org Pennies for Peace] - official site
* [http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ Three Cups of Tea] - official site
* [http://www.ikat.org/ Central Asia Institute]