Greg captured elegantly what we were experiencing in many communities.
Inspired by his story and seeing so many
parallels with our experiences, I wrote an
email on September 15, 2007, to the address
at the back of the book:
Dear Central Asia Institute,
… I am convinced that the long-term
solution to terrorism in general and
Afghanistan specifically is education. The
conflict here will not be won with bombs
but with books and ideas that excite the
imagination toward peace, tolerance, and
prosperity. The thirst for education here is
palpable. People are tired of war after 30
years and want a better future. Education
will make the difference whether the next
generation grows up to be educated patriots or illiterate fighters. The stakes could
not be higher….
Sincerely, Christopher Kolenda
A week later, an email from Greg
Mortenson arrived. I never expected a response to my letter and doubted it would
actually get to Greg, figuring it was one of
thousands of supportive letters. It was, but
Greg took the time to write back. That kind
of thoughtfulness, I have come to know, is
part of Greg’s DNA.
Greg let me know that he was looking to
expand CAI operations in Afghanistan —
did I know of any place that might be interested in a school?
I knew of the perfect village.
IF YOU SWEAT FOR IT, YOU PROTECT IT
Central Asia Institute-Afghanistan partners Sarfraz Khan and Wakil Karimi met
with the elders of the village on several occasions, eventually completing the school in
2008.
CAI’s patient approach focused on building relationships first. Once the mutual trust
was established, the community needed
to demonstrate commitment. Sweat equity was one of the key signs of seriousness.
Communities working with CAI were asked
to donate land, materials, and unskilled labor to support the school, teachers, and
students.
This method made so much sense. Part
of the reason no one washes a rental car or
takes it for an oil change after driving it is
their lack of ownership. But when people
FALL 2015
own the problems and solutions, they make
sustainable changes for the better. By the
time a school is completed, the community
feels a sense of ownership, achievement, and
shared sacrifice.
In mid-2008, Pakistani militants began
operating in the area near Saw Village. The
villagers defended the school and children
from harm for years, even receiving support
from local Afghan Taliban. Afghans have a
wonderful saying: “If you sweat for it, you
protect it.”
This is the critical difference in CAI’s approach. For many non-profit organizations,
constructing a building is their goal. For others, graduation rates are how they measure
success. For CAI, the building is a symbol of
the community’s commitment to education
and their children. They sweat for it, protect
it, keep their children in school, support
learning, and demand teacher performance.
Why does this difference matter? Building
schools and having children graduate both
are worthy goals. But that which is measured
often drives approaches and incentives. You
can build a school, but will that building still
be in use a year later? Many children may
graduate from school, but if they learn nothing because teachers are absent or parents
are unsupportive, then the piece of paper
stating they graduated means little.
CAI’s focus on relationships and understanding of ownership aligns incentives toward sustainable education in the
community.
DOES IT MATTER?
Sadly, in December 2014, after six years
of relative safety, the Saw Village School
sustained majo