To Educate is To Empower

To educate is to empower — to unleash the problem solver and the life-long learner within.  (Anonymous)

Meet Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea.

In 1993, Greg Mortenson and four others set out to climb K2, the world’s second highest mountain in northern Pakistan.  A 75-hour life-saving rescue mission to save the fifth climber abruptly ended the climbers’ 70+ days journey to ascend the world’s no. 2.

On his way down, Mortenson strayed from his group.  The weak, exhausted climber came across Korphe, a small ordinary village; shortly thereafter, greeted and taken in by the village chief, Haji Ali.

Mortenson promised to repay the people’s compassion by building schools for the remote village.

Mortenson faced daunting challenges in his quest to raise funds for the building of more than 55 schools in Taliban territory, including death threats from Islamic mullahs, long periods of separation from his family, and being kidnapped by Taliban sympathizers.  Mortenson became a one-man mission with the goal of bringing educational structures and resources to young girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (see Three Cups of Tea)

“One of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time, Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is proof that one ordinary person … really can change the world.” (Tom Brokaw)