 "Photo: Brandon McNary")
Students are getting involved in service learning program called "Pennies for Peace" to raise money for the construction of schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pennies for Peace is part of the Central Asia Institute, and correlates with the reading program and selected summer novel "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time" by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin.
In the novel, Mortenson is a well-known mountaineer and ends up taking a wrong turn that leads him to a Pakistani village. After enduring starvation and dehydration, Mortenson is taken in by the villagers and witnesses first hand their struggles and illiteracy due to lack of education.
Since school conditions are extremely poor in Pakistan, this organization exists for the specific purpose of building schools and improving education.
"Our goal is to raise $21,000 to build and staff a school for a year," said Hillary Robson, professor in experiential learning, English and university studies.
Robson said the project will continue in the fall with her 1010 students and incoming freshmen that want to participate as well as student organizations that plan to get involved.
Based on book sales from the web, one percent of every sale will go to the organization in hopes of reaching its goal.
In addition to money, Robson also wants people to donate books, stuff, time and even pennies.
"Even if you're hurting for money a penny buys a pencil," Robson said. "If everyone on campus would donate a penny or a dime we would actually exceed our original goal."
Robson along with several of her students will be on the Keathley University Center Knoll every Thursday collecting donations and rewarding people for their generosity with pens, buttons and baked goods.
"I remember when 9/11 happened it was horrible [and] I wanted to do something [and] I felt like I needed to do something, but me being one person I didn't know what I could do and actually make a difference," said Matt Beird, freshman History major. "But with this I can already see a change, Greg Mortenson has already effected thousands of lives and anything I can contribute will make a difference."
The largest donation made towards Pennies for Peace thus far is from Sigma Nu, who presented Robson with a check for $1,000 last Thursday.
"Pennies for Peace is for a good cause and it benefits several children who are less fortunate and would not have the ability to get an education if not for organizations like this," said Brandon McNary, junior psychology major and President of Sigma Nu. "And since we just recently been back on campus, we felt a campus charity project would be better than one on a national level."
The $1,000 donated by Sigma Nu was the money earned in Chi Omega's Wish Week contest. McNary said the fraternity voted after winning their earnings and decided to donate the money to Pennies for Peace.
Robson said one of the authors, Greg Mortenson, will speak at the convocation in August, and will be presented with a check for funds raised so far.
Students and community members interested in getting involved with Pennies for Peace, they can contact Hillary Robson at 615-494-8970 or at hrobson@mtsu.edu.
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