I have been blessed to learn first hand the power of teaching a child to read. It is a life-changing event that many Americans take for granted. Statistics indicate that the more education our children have the higher their life income will be while reducing the likelyhood they will participate in illegal activities. Greg Mortenson and his organization work to stop war by building schools. The pen is truely mightier than the sword!
In Stones Into Schools, Greg Mortenson describes how his organization strives to build schools in some of the hardest to reach communities so the young women there can learn to read thereby bringing about the biggest potential change. He quotes The Girl Effect which states "If you teach a boy, you educate an individual; but if you teach a girl, you educate a community." So he builds schools for girls in this war-torn region in order to defeat the extremist Taliban jihad teachings that misinterpret the peaceful philosophy of the Koran which turns children into warriors.
Greg Mortenson states it eloquently:…" the mind of a child is like the surface of the lake beside the school – and because they know that trying to contain the flames that are lit by literacy can be as futile as dropping a stone onto the surface of that lake and attempting to hold back the ripples with one’s hands."
If you have time to read only one inspiring book this summer, read this one. Then take some action! You don’t have to donate to his project (but you might consider doing so), but what I truly hope is that you do something to promote literacy and education in your own neighborhood!
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