Collecting Pennies for Peace

News

Newtown Patch
March 11th, 2011

Child with Pennies

A penny may seem insignificant to you and me, but for first grade students at Newtown Friends School, a penny is teaching them how to make the world a better place.

The 25 students in the school’s two first-grade classes have been collecting for Pennies for Peace, a service learning program that helps to raise money to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

To raise money for education in these remote regions, students literally collect pennies, whether it’s through emptying their piggy banks, asking their parents for the extra pennies in the store checkout line, or raiding their house for spare change.

Pennies for Peace was started by Greg Mortenson, co-founder and executive director of Central Asia Institute and co-author of the bestselling book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School At A Time.

Every grade level does a community service project, explained Kristen Sanchez, the school’s Community Service Coordinator. Sanchez is also an eighth grade teacher.

“This we thought was so good for first graders because they’re collecting pennies,” said first grade teacher Esther Sitrin.

Not only is it a simple way to help others in need, but it also fits in the with the class curriculum. First graders study Asia, Sitrin explained, so they’re learning about the very places they’re working to help.

The first graders spearheaded the school-wide fundraiser, which took place during February, and asked their peers from various grade levels to contribute to their efforts. Through announcements at school assemblies and posters, students spread the word.

This is the third year the Quaker school has raised money to support Pennies for Peace and the second year that first graders have led the effort. Last year’s first graders collected more than $650 for the organization.

This story continues at Newtown Patch.