Let's have 3 cups of Tea :)

I have this habit of reading news whenever i access internet and since last two days a phrase was catching my attention and that phrase was Three Cups of Tea. At first i thought it would be some medical research on tea consumption and that's why i never clicked on it but finally curiosity forced me to Google it. Contrary to what i had assumed about that phrase, i found out that it is basically a title of  a New York Times bestselling book written by Mountaineer turned Humanitarian Mr.Greg Mortenson. 

The complete title of the book is  (original hardcover title) Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ... One School at a Time). By the name its obvious that this book is all about combating extremism and spreading education. It is a non-fictional memoir of Greg Motenson. An American came to Pakistan, to climb the second highest Mountain K-2 to honor the memory of his deceased sister. After more than 70 days on the mountain, Mortenson and three other climbers had their ascent interrupted by the need to complete a 75-hour life-saving rescue of a fifth climber. But unfortunately he was stranded during his descent   and reached Korphe (a village in northeastern Pakistan) where he was treated very well by the Chief of the Village. He was moved by the the drastic condition of the people and village. He promised to build  a school in that village and went back in order to raise funds for his mission. Luckily, he managed to have Jean Hoerni for this noble task who donated $12,000 and co-founded Central Asia Institute.

Till now, Non-Profit Organization(CAI) is responsible for remarkable achievements mentioned below:

• 170 schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan
• 687 fully or partially supported teachers
• Education for over 58,000 students, including 44,000 girls
• Ongoing education for victims of the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake. The quake killed 74,000 people, including 18,000 students, and displaced 2.8 million refugees. CAI has rebuilt or re-established 16 schools destroyed in the earthquake.

Mortenson has done a remarkable job by founding CAI despite the severe hardships(threats from extremists, long periods of separation from his family, and being kidnapped by Taliban sympathizers) he faced. His mission to eliminate extremism by spreading education is highly effective,suitable and pragmatic. His view that girls should be educated because educated girls remain in the community and pass their enhanced knowledge to the next generation is correct and should be adopted in our society. He was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz(Pakistan’s highest civilian award) on 23rd March 2009. 

In the end, i would like to say that if an American brother can analyze and try to eliminate our very own problem then why can't we???? At-least donate *some amount* to his foundation. Its my plea to award this man a Nobel Peace Prize!

P.S.; The title of the Book is derived from this great proverb  "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family..."

Peace!