Last fall, a parent of a future student came to meet with me about “Pennies for Progress,” a local and global effort to reduce poverty through education, based on the book Three Cups of Tea written by Greg Mortenson.

She gave me a copy of the book and asked me to read it, hoping that I would be as inspired as she and a group of volunteers were.

Carroll College selected the book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time, as required reading for all incoming freshman this fall to help them appreciate that one person is able to change the world for the better. The book has become a community-wide favorite. When Greg Mortenson spoke last fall at the Helena Middle School, the auditorium was overflowing and people had to be turned away. Many Helena educators attended the presentation, and I became intrigued by the idea of incorporating this message into the schools.

The story is deeply inspirational, offering peace and hope through education, and has motivated a group of volunteers to organize a “10 Million Penny Campaign: Pennies for Progress” to unite Helena around a common goal. Locally, the campaign will provide seed funding for a community center for the Rocky Mountain Development Council Head Start program. Globally, it will fund the construction of one school in Pakistan through the Central Asia Institute.

Three Cups of Tea is about Bozeman resident Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who was abandoned while descending from K2 in 1993. Rescued by residents of a small village, he watched the boys leave each morning for school while he recuperated. The village leader, Haji, was hesitant to show Mortenson the school. When he finally saw the school, 82 students (78 boys and four girls) were sitting on a small rock outcropping doing their lessons with sticks in the frosted dirt. Despite the fact that the teacher was only available three days a week, the students were diligent in their school work. Mortenson promised to return home to America and raise the $12,000 needed to build a school. As word of his work spread, others in Pakistan and Afghanistan also wanted his help to build a school for their village. Today, his organization has built over 60 schools in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia. In each village, he ensures that girls have equal access to education.

The $50,000 needed to sponsor a school through the Central Asia Institute covers the expense to construct the school building and pay a teacher’s salary for five years. In addition to building a school, employees from the Central Asia Institute assist the village residents develop compatible economic businesses that provide continued funding to support the school after the five-year start-up. Other communities and organizations, including Sun Valley, Idaho, and the Montana Library Association, have worked with the Central Asia Institute to sponsor a school.

The target of the Helena “Pennies for Progress” campaign is $100,000 or 10 million pennies. The campaign also promotes education right here in Helena in combination with a contribution to the Central Asia Institute. The campaign includes a commitment to raise $50,000 for education for the youngest learners in our community by providing seed money for a new Head Start community center on the Rossiter School Campus.

The Pennies for Progress campaign will empower children, provide them experience in philanthropy and educate them about the value of a penny. While a penny seems to have little value in our country, a penny can buy a pencil in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia. The true value of philanthropy and teamwork can build a school that will change the future for many children. During the month of February, all children in the Helena School District will have the opportunity to participate in the “10 Million Penny Campaign: Pennies for Progress.”

While sending funds overseas to build a school, we can also learn from the students in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia. For the children in these distant countries, it is a privilege to attend school. One of the intangible goals of this campaign is to convey the message that learning is valuable. In the U.S. we are fortunate that education is a right, but sometimes we lose sight of how fortunate we are to have quality teachers and schools available to all children. By incorporating a tangible relationship with a different culture, perhaps we will view our education with new perspective.

The Helena School District is working to expand this project into more than a penny drive. February is “I Love to Read Month,” and all school libraries have books that feature Pakistan, Afghanistan of Mongolia. In addition, Three Cups of Tea is also available. Where possible, teachers will incorporate the campaign into the classroom by showing pictures, telling stories and reading from Mortenson’s book. Helena students will develop pen-pal relationships with students in the sponsored school, which will provide a connection now and in the future. Other related lessons that will be introduced throughout Helena schools during the campaign include math, the concept of leveraging resources, finance, empowerment and team building. I anticipate this campaign will add fun and value to learning as well as make the campaign concepts tangible. The benefits of this experience truly go both directions.

The campaign emphasizes the value of education here and around the world and fosters a sense of philanthropy and increased cultural awareness throughout the community. The “10 Million Penny Campaign: Pennies for Progress” also supports the 40 Developmental Assets for youth in Helena. The Search Institute of Minneapolis, a non-profit organization promoting healthy children, youth and communities, has identified 40 developmental assets, which are concrete, common sense positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people.

If you have not had the chance, I encourage you to read Three Cups of Tea. The book is truly an inspiration, as is the “10 Million Penny Campaign.”

BRUCE MESSINGER is superintendent of schools in Helena.