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SUMMIT COVE — Debra Mitchell’s fifth grade class is working toward an impressive goal — they want to help build a school.
Recently, these Summit Cove Elementary School students read an article about the lack of supplies, teachers and schools in Afghanistan. And when Mitchell asked them what their responsibility was, they decided it was to facilitate change.
“We get an education and we think that other people in other countries should have an education and get opportunities that we do,” said fifth-grader Brittany Berry.
So, they began to research and fundraise. The students created jars that read “To help children in Central Asia” that they’ve put in classrooms throughout the school.
They’ve also been out at City Market and plan to be at Vitamin Cottage Friday.
The group has already raised $1,129, mostly through change, which is about the equivalent of the amount needed to pay two teachers salaries. But they are not stopping there.
These children are strategizing and spreading the word of what they are doing and the need in Pakistan and Afghanistan with the hope of raising $12,000. That would pay for the school, supplies and teachers through the Pennies for Peace, a program of the Central Asia Institute, the students said.
While putting together a power point presentation, students each researched a topic. Some looked into the Taliban, others found statistics on the country, schools and culture. They plan to share their knowledge with community groups to help them reach their goal.
A few of the students are also reading Greg Mortenson’s book “Three Cups of Tea.” Mortenson — who has inspired the children — founded the Central Asia Institute about 10 years ago after he got sick climbing K2 and ended up getting help in a small village. There, he saw the lack of schools and decided he wanted to change that.
Since then, he’s put up more than 60 schools for boys and girls or just girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The focus on girls education stems from the fact that they’ve had less opportunities for education and “if you educate a girl, she will educate the village,” said Brittany, the fifth-grader.
This is because the girls usually stay in the village while the boys often leave, added Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain to Mountain in Breckenridge, who visited with the class this week.
Galpin raised more than $100,000 in the community for the Central Asia Institute last year. She was impressed with the students’ presentation, admired their drive and traded information with them.
One of the statistics that they students found is that only 36 percent of girls in Afghanistan older than 15 can read and write. Also, 40,000 teachers are needed, the fifth-graders said. And Galpin shared with them that some of the girls who’ve been educated in Mortenson’s schools have come back to the villages to be teachers, heath care works.
Caring is a trait that the class has studied. It is “one of our learning profiles,” said fifth grader Logan Weinman, adding that “this idea (building a school) describes the true meaning of caring.”
<i>Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.</i>
Recently, these Summit Cove Elementary School students read an article about the lack of supplies, teachers and schools in Afghanistan. And when Mitchell asked them what their responsibility was, they decided it was to facilitate change.
“We get an education and we think that other people in other countries should have an education and get opportunities that we do,” said fifth-grader Brittany Berry.
So, they began to research and fundraise. The students created jars that read “To help children in Central Asia” that they’ve put in classrooms throughout the school.
They’ve also been out at City Market and plan to be at Vitamin Cottage Friday.
The group has already raised $1,129, mostly through change, which is about the equivalent of the amount needed to pay two teachers salaries. But they are not stopping there.
These children are strategizing and spreading the word of what they are doing and the need in Pakistan and Afghanistan with the hope of raising $12,000. That would pay for the school, supplies and teachers through the Pennies for Peace, a program of the Central Asia Institute, the students said.
While putting together a power point presentation, students each researched a topic. Some looked into the Taliban, others found statistics on the country, schools and culture. They plan to share their knowledge with community groups to help them reach their goal.
A few of the students are also reading Greg Mortenson’s book “Three Cups of Tea.” Mortenson — who has inspired the children — founded the Central Asia Institute about 10 years ago after he got sick climbing K2 and ended up getting help in a small village. There, he saw the lack of schools and decided he wanted to change that.
Since then, he’s put up more than 60 schools for boys and girls or just girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The focus on girls education stems from the fact that they’ve had less opportunities for education and “if you educate a girl, she will educate the village,” said Brittany, the fifth-grader.
This is because the girls usually stay in the village while the boys often leave, added Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain to Mountain in Breckenridge, who visited with the class this week.
Galpin raised more than $100,000 in the community for the Central Asia Institute last year. She was impressed with the students’ presentation, admired their drive and traded information with them.
One of the statistics that they students found is that only 36 percent of girls in Afghanistan older than 15 can read and write. Also, 40,000 teachers are needed, the fifth-graders said. And Galpin shared with them that some of the girls who’ve been educated in Mortenson’s schools have come back to the villages to be teachers, heath care works.
Caring is a trait that the class has studied. It is “one of our learning profiles,” said fifth grader Logan Weinman, adding that “this idea (building a school) describes the true meaning of caring.”
<i>Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.</i>
