Pennies for Peace

Madison counting out her pennies from one of her piggy banks.

Madison's school is participating in "Pennies for Peace" a program sponsored by The Central Asia Institute. From Wikipedia:
"Pennies for Peace is an international service-learning 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."[1] The program focuses on raising cross-cultural awareness through education to promote peace."

Last spring, several of us in our book club here on post read Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea and were inspired by it. Living on a military base, most of us have had family members go to Afghanistan at one point or another. Greg Mortenson, in his book, describes how he has built dozens of schools all across Pakistan and now into Afghanistan. Pennies for Peace allows the kids to get involved by collecting pennies used to buy school supplies for these children. One penny can buy a pencil. Two to three pennies can buy an eraser. It's an amazing program, an amazing book, as is the sequel, Stones into Schools. If you havn't read them, the librarian I am, recommend them!

Madison was very excited to start her penny collection. She emptied her piggy bank when she got home from school. Her school is participating for the next two weeks and will then send off their donation.

The school is getting some social studies lessons out of this too, which is really cool. Madison already knows a little about Afghanistan because my brother, Clay, is there now. I explained to her that these pennies were going to buy school supplies for the kids where Uncle Clay was. She asked if he and the other soldiers were helping all the little kids and keeping them safe...too sweet. She's really into it and very excited to do something for others.