If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community.
– African Proverb
Phoenix - Greg Mortenson, AAUW member and author of the best-selling book Three Cups of Tea, convinced members of the importance of education for girls everywhere, today at the 44th AAUW national convention.
Mortenson described his efforts to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan at yesterday’s keynote address. To date, Mortenson has facilitated the construction of more than 60 schools in countries where education was rare for both girls and boys.
“I’m a father, a husband…an AAUW member, and I’m passionate about education,” Mortenson said. “As AAUW members, we know what education can do. We can start here and spread the message.”
Mortenson recounted stories of girls who were once refused education by teachers, who walked more than two hours to attend school each day, and who were taunted by boys who didn’t want them in schools. Today, these women are doctors and health professionals where they improve the quality of life in their communities.
Mortenson addressed terrorism in his speech, suggesting that education can battle terrorism as well. If mothers are educated about terrorism, they can prevent more children from extremism and fundamentalism.
"What we really yearn for is peace, and we can promote peace through education," Mortenson said.
Mortenson is a living hero to rural communities of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he has gained the trust of Islamic leaders, elders, commanders and tribal chiefs for his tireless effort to champion education.
"AAUW is proud to host Greg Mortenson at our convention," said AAUW Executive Director Michele Wetherald. "Greg is a courageous man, who like AAUW, is dedicated to education and equity for women and girls."
In 1996, he survived an eight day armed kidnapping in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and escaped a 2003 firefight by feuding Afghan warlords.
Three Cups of Tea was selected by TIME Magazine as a 2006 Asia book of the Year. NBC newscaster, Tom Brokaw, calls Mortenson, “one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, who is really changing the world.”
For more information, please visit our website or contact Rebecca Leaf, senior media relations associate at 202-785-7738, leafr@aauw.org or Ashley Carr, director of communications at 202-785-7745, carra@aauw.org.
