One Man's Mission to Promote Peace

Greg Mortenson is an American hailing from small town of Bozeman, Montana. Yet, he is one of the most revered personalities in Northern Pakistan. In the past fifteen years that he has worked in the Baltistan and NWFP region (Northern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan to the west, China to the North and India to the east), he has impacted the society in a way no other foreigner has been able to do for the last two millennium. He has given the children of Northern Pakistan a unique gift that their ancestors never had. Education. Building over 63 schools at the roof of the world and in the shadow of K2, the world's second tallest mountain, he has transformed the lives of villagers and especially women through his Central Asian Institute (CAI).

His story as chronicled in Three Cups of Tea, One Man's mission to promote peace, one school at a time, (http://www.threecupsoftea.com), is of remarkable courage, determination and single minded focus is nothing short of a Hollywood saga. It all began in 1993 when he decided to climb K2, the world's most difficult peak to scale. On his way back from the unsuccessful attempt, he lost his way and almost froze to death on the rugged mountain. However, by stroke of luck, he was able to stumble upon a remote village, Korphe (which did not exist on any maps at the time). The inhabitants were extremely hospitable and nursed the big burly mountaineer back to health. Moved by their kindness, he promised to build a school for them.

He returned to California, and with no money in his pockets or in the bank, was faced with the prospect of not being able to keep the promise for the villagers of Korphe. And thus began the saga and the legend of Greg Mortenson. Living almost at the edge of poverty, and saving every penny that he earned, for the promised school in the remotest part of the world, he ventured on a journey that continues to this day. His CAI (Greg Mortenson is the co-founder with Dr. Jean Hoerni and Executive Director of nonprofit Central Asia Institute http://www.ikat.org) institute has brought more positive impact and good name for USA in Taliban infested region, than anything that the American President has done with his official propaganda and development programs. His schools that cost one-fifth of what World Bank would spend and half of what the Government of Pakistan allocates enroll over thirty thousand students all over.

Girls in CAI sponsored schools

Truly, he is one of the greatest social entrepreneurs the world has ever seen. Someone who should be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.