Pennies for Peace

(submitted by Jackson Elementary) - Jackson Elementary School students successfully completed a Service Learning Project and raised $1,139.01 for Pennies for Peace, a non-profit organization started by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools. The students raised money to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan where children, especially girls, are often denied an education. The project was organized by the Service Learning Committee of the Student Council and it stretched into the whole school. When we announced the amount of money earned, you could hear every classroom erupt into applause.

The following are statements from three of the students on their reflection pages: “I will never look at a penny the same again." “I learned that people don’t have schools like we do and want to learn." “I was so proud of our school that we could raise that much money for people that need it more than we do."

We believe the benefits of this type of project go way beyond the money sent to build schools. The students learned more about the value of education than any of our words could have taught them. I do believe it changed the lives of the 8 students on the committee as well as the students in the school. It feels good to give no matter who you are. We encourage every school to organize such a project. It was easy and it was fun.