The TRiO Student Support Services program at a local two year college raised funds for Pennies for Peace, which benefits the Central Asia Institute, an organization that sponsors community based education (especially for girls) in rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are many Muslim students at the school as many leaders and promoters of peace who immediately latched on to the project. Their efforts recently made national news, and they were featured in the Council for Educational Opportunity journal, NetWorks, Spring 2009 edition.
Rachel, a student in the Electrical Construction program, spoke up to voice her sup¬port for the program. “I think it’s great!” she said.
Sophal, a student in the Child Development program, said, “I love to help children and Pennies for Peace makes that possible.”
“While we collect money, we can teach children how to count and learn how to help others,” said Khadra, also in Child Development.
Student Ashreen mentioned that she has visited Pakistan and knows that it’s very hard for children in some areas. “Pennies for Peace helps them stay in school and accomplish their goals."
Students printed informational flyers and brought in collection containers to place in the bookstore, cafeteria and gas stations in the community. After Ramadan, the Muslim Holy Month, students collected donations from relatives and friends for the El Eid festival. Student collected $368. It doesn’t sound like much, but one penny buys a pencil and one dollar pays a teacher’s salary for a day.
“This project educates the students—and future leaders—about the global village in which we live and about cultures and religions different from our own. It also promotes peace because in these rural areas, educated children are less likely to be forced into or join extremist, fundamentalist groups,” their teacher, Joel Bisser, said.
For more information on the Pennies for Peace program and the Central Asia Institute, please visit
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