ResourcesElkhart Elementary Students Promote Peace
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Story written by Linda Meehan, Elkhart Elementary School
How would it feel to have to write in the dirt with a stick to practice math problems? What would it be like to be ten years old and have to be your own teacher? In Greg Mortenson’s book, Three Cups of Tea, some Elkhart 5th graders in the after school RaMS tutoring program learned that in Pakistan and Afghanistan, both are a reality. What’s more, many young girls cannot go to school in those countries because their parents cannot afford to pay $20 per month for tuition. According to Mr. Mortenson, “When you educate a boy, you educate an individual, when you educate a girl, you educate a community.” The Elkhart 5th graders were so touched by the situation in those countries that in late January, they wanted to join in Mr. Mortenson’s worldwide fundraiser, “Pennies for Peace.”
To gain support to from the Elkhart administration, they held a tea with the principal, Maria Elena Thomas and assistant principal, Katie Hartenbach. They served authentic Pakistani tea and cookies, and made their pitch to hold the fundraiser. Next, they came to a staff meeting and presented the idea to the teachers, suggesting that, “Our fellow students need to learn to be selfless, not selfish.” For ten days, every grade level brought pennies and other change to contribute toward the campaign. Even the Media Para read the primary version of Three Cups of Tea, called Listen to the Wind, to every class so that all students would understand the educational challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan. At the end of the fundraiser, the top class was Marie Hannon’s 3rd grade, which gathered $185! Second and third place classrooms were Erin Fawkes and Michelle Maestas Kindergarten, and Jon Brown’s 4th grade. Each of the three classes had its picture taken with the principal and assistant principal to be displayed in the school foyer.
To top off the excitement, the tutoring group was able to take a field trip to hear Greg Mortenson speak at the University of Northern Colorado on February 10th. One student remarked, “It was the best day of my life.” In total, the school raised $1,200 in less than a week and a half. When asked what they learned, the group resoundingly said, “Every person can do a little to make a big difference in the world.”
Vanessa Gonzalez, Giselle Herrera, Tsion Shiferaw,
Hugo Herrera, Linda Meehan, Edu Oseguera, Daniel Nava
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