Winning Afghan hearts and minds, one brick at a time

Rainbow Bracey

Assistant Spectrum Editor

Close your eyes and imagine the most remote, isolated place you know—then think beyond. That is the world Greg Mortenson brings to the pages of “Stones Into Schools.”

Mortenson starts by telling the story of Nasreen Baig, a Pakistani woman who dreamed of helping “babies not die within a year of their birth.” After the rare achievement of completing high school, Nasreen had visions of becoming a medical aide, but when she received a scholarship to attend school, she could not claim it. The power of her household had shifted and her new stepmother, like many elders, believed Nasreen should not be educated.

She became the object of constant discouragement and taunts from her stepmother. However, she stayed determined. This detour in her education was not the end of Nasreen’s dream.

She waited 10 years, working daily to support her family, when hearts and minds finally changed. The village elders agreed to allow Nasreen to pursue her higher education.

Her story of patience and triumph is just one in Mortenson’s journey into the most remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He unveils the people of the mountains.

The language Mortenson uses reflects his respect and dignity for a culture often misunderstood by Westerners. He shows that when a bond is forged it must be on solid ground—not one of political means or ulterior motives. Mortenson achieves a standard of respect that has eluded military forces for nearly a decade.

If you enjoyed “Three Cups Of Tea,” you will be delighted and inspired to read his continued journey with the Central Asia Institute. The organization, which Mortenson co-founded, is dedicated to building schools in the most inaccessible parts of the Middle East, with the idea that by working from the end of the road you can reach the communities that need the most help.

Mortenson’s words carry the sincerity of the seeing each and every one of those villages. His voice brings the passion and hope of the young girls he’s giving a chance to. The inspiration behind the Central Asia Institute began as a wrong turn. For those who missed “Three Cups if Tea,” don’t worry—Mortenson takes plenty of time to fill you in. He tells the story of his attempted climbing of K2, the world’s second highest mountain and subsequent failure after being lost. He was sheltered and fed by the villagers of Korphe, in the foothills of Pakistan. There, he observed children wanting to learn but having no means to do so.

Mortenson made a promise on that trip not to forget them and to return. He would discover that building bridges would have to come before building schools. Relationships with everyone from tribe elders to Taliban merchants would need to be strengthened for his goals to be realized. Mortenson’s philosophy did not change when he ventured into the remote mountainous areas of northeastern Afghanistan for the first time.

“Stones into Schools” focuses on the construction of one school at the end of a very long and treacherous road. The people at the end of the road were the Kirghiz—strong horsemen carrying the message of Commandhan Abdul Rashid Khan, the leader of the last group of Kirghiz people, who wanted the children of his village to be educated. Word of the “strange American climber who built schools” had traveled up to the mountains, and made its mark. From this request Mortenson begins the task of building a school at the end of that road. The challenges are numerous ranging from geographic difficulty to elderly resistance.

Mortenson stays strong with his commitment and belief that by educating young girls, he educates entire communities.

Through the book requires an imaginative tongue and much use of the provided who’s-who list, it’s an easy read.

The theme of a mission with a real life outcome added to the quality of the narrative. An easy take-action guide gave the enterprising reader immediate ways to contribute to a much worthy cause.

“Stones Into Schools” tells the story of the struggle and challenge of the CAI to build the bridges and bonds that make change and provide hope.

Mortenson stays encouraged with one of his first lessons gained from a village elder—anything truly important is worth doing very, very slowly.

Grade: A-