The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Pennies for peace
Chelsea youngsters collect coins to help under-privileged children overseas
By Sheila Pursglove, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2008
Pennies - you get them in change, find them down the back of the couch, clean them out of the bottom of your pocket or purse.
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The humble cent doesn't get a lot of respect in this country, but to children in poorer countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, a simple penny can buy a pencil or notebook, and help to bring peace to these war-torn regions through education.
Chelsea schoolchildren are taking part in a "Pennies for Peace" program, spearheaded by three local mothers, Sue Beale, Karen Fahle and Misha Strauss Moore.
The trio recently met writer Greg Mortenson during a Border's Book Club program. The Montana writer is co-author of the bestseller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time." His book tells how, as a mountaineer, in 1993 he got involved in the lives of the people of Korphe, a remote village in the mountains of Pakistan - an area so poor, the village had no school.
Mortenson later founded the Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes and provides community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The organization has built more than 60 schools.
Pennies for Peace, a program of the CAI, has brought in millions of pennies since its inception in 1994 to help pay for teacher salaries and school supplies.
"As we talked with Greg, we were moved by his stories, in particular his comments that most of the children he helps have never even touched or seen a book, let alone owned one," Beale says. "Many children have a three-hour daily walk to school, and write and do sums with sticks in dirt or sand."
The three mothers decided to start their own Pennies for Peace campaign in Chelsea, enlisting the help of school principals and PTOs at North Creek, Pierce Lake and South Meadows elementary schools.
They teamed the campaign with "March is Reading Month," a PTO event that encourages children to read and broaden their knowledge of the world and other cultures.
By week three, more than 60,000 pennies had found their way into local collection jars.
"We're hoping for a big push on the home straight, and perhaps we might just hit the 100,000 pennies mark," Beale says. "That would be fantastic."
The idea is to extend the campaign until April 25, in the hope of reaching that $1,000 mark.
"Not that the actual amount is so important, more the fact that we are teaching our kids to reach out," Beale says.
She hopes for a last-ditch effort during Spring Break.
"Children can ask their relatives if they're going visiting, and just turn their own rooms upside down to find those last few elusive pennies," she says.
In addition to collecting at the schools, pennies also were collected at Moore Pediatrics in Chelsea.
"A handful of the children went to the Chelsea State Bank and saw what happens to the pennies when we deposit them," Beale says. "We are, of course, most grateful to the bank staff for their patience. The staff have been so very helpful and backed us in this campaign."
By limiting donations only to pennies, all children, regardless of family circumstances, were able to participate, Beale says. Her own three children - Samuel, 9, Rosanna, 7, and four-year-old Eleanor enjoyed taking part.
"Pennies for Peace helps kids understand that we're lucky to have all these things, and we should help other children have these privileges," her son Sam says.
Chelsea children see that, in many ways, children in Pakistan and Afghanistan are similar to them, except they have very few opportunities, Beale says. "The response has been tremendous. I think the plight of these children has really struck a chord with our kids here in Chelsea."
Beale and her fellow organizers encouraged youngsters to make a game out of finding pennies — under car seats, between couch cushions, in Polly's parking lot.
Many youngsters emptied out their moneyboxes and donated pennies. It's a powerful and empowering experience for children to realize they are making a difference in the lives of other children, one penny at a time, Beale says.
"It feels great to be involved with a project that shows our children to be so kind and caring that they are willing to reach out and help kids on the other side of the world."
Beale would like to see local youngsters sending letters to children at the schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"Also I encourage parents to look up these places on the map with their kids, if they haven't already done so and learn a few facts about them," she says.
The Pennies for Peace project exemplified what is so special about Chelsea, Moore says.
Her three-year-old daughter Stella finds pennies everywhere she goes, and loves dropping them in the collection bottles, while Tobin 8, and Hannah, 10, are enjoying helping children in other countries.
Karen Fahle and her children — Aidan, Campbell, Nora and Owen — have talked at great length about the plight of children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and she is pleased to find her children are learning to look beyond their own backyard, and to reach out to someone in need.
"In the Pennies For Peace literature, my boys were struck by the pictures of the children playing soccer — sports is always the great equalizer," she says. "My daughter thought the girls looked sad. She thought it was because they didn't have a school. I pointed out that it's possible they don't know what a camera is or what a printed picture is, and may not know to smile for that funny black contraption. A light bulb went off in her head. Nora was able to place herself in their shoes and see life differently, even if for just a moment."
Fahle and her four children have collected pennies in all the usual hiding place, she says. "Lots were found in the cushions of the chairs and couches in our house. Our Aunt Mary had a jar to share with us. Every bit of change we received in our daily purchases, we asked for it in pennies.
"We've learned that every small step you take, every penny collected, can indeed have great impact on children halfway across the globe.
"For the rest of my life, I will not be able to see a penny without thinking of this special fund drive and feeling incredibly grateful to have been a part of it."
Sheila Pursglove is a freelance writer. She can be reached at bingley51@yahoo. com.
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