December Book Buzz

In light of this season of giving here are two books worthy of reading.

Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with books, not bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan By Greg Mortenson

Stones into Schools is an inspiring story telling how one man’s interrupted journey has transformed the lives of the most remote and destitute citizens of two countries. This continuing story started with “Three Cups of Tea,” which was published in 2006 and has remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for an unprecedented three years.

Mortenson, an American, co-founded The Central Asia Institute (CAI), which is responsible for building over 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 55,000 children, 44,000 of them girls, are being educated in these countries.

Stones into Schools begins with Mortenson making a promise to a group of riders from the Bozai Gumbaz to somehow build a school located over 14,000 feet above sea level. At the time, CAI had only built schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan was very unstable politically and was a stronghold of the Taliban.

Despite his best intentions, it took over a decade to even attempt to make good on his promise, partially because in the Kashmir region of Pakistan on October 8, 2005 an earthquake measuring 7.6, equal to the 1906 San Francisco quake, wiped out over 75,000 lives. Mortenson and his staff started tent schools and later rebuilt using technology to make schools that would survive earthquakes.

Stones into Schools is told in first person by Mortenson in riveting detail. There is humor, mostly directed at himself, pathos, and many success stories surrounding the students. Mortenson brings home his belief that creating educational opportunities in the Taliban area will bring more good will than almost any other effort.

Of special interest to Durango is the fact that the community is mentioned in the introduction. Mortenson tells about the wonderful reception he received at Fort Lewis College in 2008 and how the town donated $125,000 in one night to the cause of educating young girls. For more information about this worthy cause check out these two websites.

http://www.stonesintoschools.com/

http://www.penniesforpeace.org

Give A Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform our World by Wendy Smith

After 20 years in the non-profit world Wendy Smith has written an invaluable guide for giving. First she lists the four critical areas of poverty, hunger, health, education and lack of tools or infrastructure. She then talks about the best means of giving by using the ripple effect where one action spreads out and multiplies. She includes personal accounts from both recipients and donors and then concludes with an appendix of organizations and contact information.