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A failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2 in the Karakoram mountains led humanitarian Greg Mortenson into the village of Korphe, which was the catalyst for a life-changing experience in which he began his mission to build schools for girls. When he arrived in Korphe, emaciated and exhausted, he was treated with hospitality and kindness. He was appalled to see eighty-two children studying in the open frosty air since the village had no school and the Pakistani government did not provide a teacher at a cost of $1 per day. They were sharing the cost with a neighbouring village and the teacher came to the village three days a week. Mortenson promises the villagers that he will return and build a school for the children. Mortenson goes back to the States eager to make good on his promise. He struggles to find the funding and begins his mission. It is remarkable how one chance encounter in a remote mountain village could lead to a life-changing mission. Mortenson’s passion to educate poor children in central Asia is commendable, but more than praising Mortenson, ’Three Cups of Tea’ conveys how remarkable the people he helped are. Having just passed the tenth anniversary of 9/11, reading this account of everyday people in central Asia is encouraging. Far from depicting Muslims as jihadist extremists, this book shows them in all their humanity. The majority value education not only for their boys but also for their girls. They see the benefits educated girls can bring to their communities. As Mortenson says, “the girls stay home, become leaders in the community and pass on what they’ve learned. If you really want to change a culture, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight high rates of infant mortality, the answer is to educate girls.” I was also impressed by Mortenson’s willingness to do whatever it took to benefit the villagers. More than simply building schools and then moving on, Mortenson follows up in every community. But before building begins, Mortenson and his team ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support such a project. There is no use building a school if there are no students to teach or teachers to teach them. Mortenson is practical in his approach. I would highly recommend this book. Mortenson and Relin paint a captivating portrait of a part of the world I have tended to think of as extremely foreign and mysterious. I found it educational since I must admit I was ignorant of Pakistani culture and Islam in general.

2022-12-22 14:05