I’ve been reading the book “3 cups of Tea” by G Mortenson, a mountain climber who founded a number of charities that build schools in northern areas of Pak. Its an amazing story. Anyway, one of the charities he founded is called “Pennies for Peace” which gets school kids to donate pennies which go to build schools over there. In the book, he says that it costs about 12 thousand US to build a school and I am thinking that this would be SUCH a nice project for my boys…to collect enough pennies to build a school over there. Their burden would be lightened because my hubby’s job has a “matching funds” program so they would have to collect 6 thousand US to build a whole school. Of course I would help them and enlist the aid of their school and even try to establish some kind of internet connection between the children attending school they build and their classrooms…
I think this is a great idea…but am I asking too much of a 5 and 7 year old? They LOVE to build so I think if they felt like part of the building of a school it would be such a good thing for them. But to raise that amount of money is really a big task. I could tone it down and just go for a fundraiser type of thing but if we could do an entire school it would have so much more meaning for them.
What say you people - go for the whole shebang or tone it down?
I say go for it. It will teach them the value of money and help them appreciate it even more. Also, this project will teach them to think about and care about others who may not be as fortunate as they are to be attending school and getting a good education. I think kids should be involved in such projects. We can't expect as much as we would expect of adults but we can help them reach their goals step by step.
I think that might be over whelming just for couple classes but maybe if you get the administrator involve the entire school then it would be somewhat better. For some parents it might be difficult to give $25 every week. Maybe $25 every month is more doable....
Also, fundraiser events like bake sales or craft sales, etc can be quite handy.
To me it sounds a whole lot of money for kids...perhaps it may be more pressure than they could possibly handle...perhaps not. But I would start off smaller. Then judge from there.
See if u can put that whole idea in media some how. Americans are pretty rich and donates too. Let it be a little bit show off for rich people. But u hve to start it from somewhere to have a face of this project.
But big question is, will they be able to manage it if it will go really big ?
Thank you for the kind replies! I have received all the materials and info from Pennies for Peace and I think we will begin our fundraiser in September, when the new school year starts. There really isnt much time left in this school year if we want to do a whole school - time to plan and organize the whole thing. I really think that with all the help I'd be able to give that our goal is reachable - there are many wealthy people in this area and I'd hit all the grocery stores and kids stores with penny bottles, try to get the whole school involved, the local paper etc. And if we give ourselves enough time - start in September and plan to have the drive go on until spring break for example, that would give us 7 or 8 months of fundraising and I have between now and september to plan.
We're going to do this! And I'll let you know how things go!
mama totally great idea. i donate $20 dollars.
Yes its a burden on 7 year old brain you are making them familiar with human suffering.
Take good care of them after. They are going to start feeling pains of others.
Could be very painful at times.
amen to that, mama! well done! i think its a great idea and i think it will be very fulfilling for your kids and their schoolmates to not only collect the funds but also to see the project come to fruition.
