Building Hope: One School at a Time
In December 2007, students at Somers High School in upstate New York used Global Youth Fund’s demoractic process to select a global campaign for their school for 2008.
They chose Building Hope: One School at a Time.
In subsequent months, they worked together to raise money to help Central Asia Institute fund schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan where many children in remote villages have no access to education.
Goal:
- Raise $500 for educational supplies for Central Asia Institute. (Status: Achieved)
Activities:
- Write letters to Congress
- Bake sale
- Pennies drive
- Charity concert
Background:
Greg Mortensen
Founded by Greg Mortenson in 1996, the Central Asia Institute (CAI) was created to strengthen communities abandoned by their governments and ignored by passing tourists.
After his failure to climb K2, in honor of his sister’s death, Mortenson found himself sick and depleted. Then, by pure coincidence, he stumbled across the town of Korphe. There he experienced the comfort and unbridled warmth of the Balti people. He was horrified to discover that the local children were studying in the dirt and rubble without a teacher, without a school.
He vowed to come back to build a school. Against all odds and hardships (including kidnapping), he did just that.
For the past 10 years, CAI has dedicated its efforts in building more than 60 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a region where the U.S. is now engaged in a “war on terror.”
Mortenson’s “one man’s mission to promote peace” has been recounted in the highly acclaimed book, Three Cups of Tea.
Links:
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- Student presents One Laptop Per Child Campaign
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- Student presents Building Hope Campaign
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- Student presents City of Joy Campaign
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- Group discussion
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- Group Discussion 2
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- Group Discussion 3
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- Group Discussion 4
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- Student votes for group project.
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- Another student votes for group project.
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- Greg Mortensen
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- Girls reading at a Central Asia Institute School
Popularity: 100% [?]
this is really a good job you are doing. most of your programs are similar to ours. the only difference is we are still young. we look forward to work closely with you and partner of possible.