Sharing Our Humanity

The AEA school community has thrown its considerable energy and resources behind two meaningful k-8 initiatives as part of the IB theme "Sharing Our Humanity"--Pennies for Peace and Books of Hope. Pennies for Peace is an effort to gather pennies in support of Greg Mortenson's Central Asian Institute work in Afghanistan building schools for girls in rural mountainous areas. This initiative is in full swing on campus--jars of pennies can be seen in all classrooms and many common areas.  The middle school ASB, led by Mr. Prouse, is putting in extra time counting and rolling pennies, maintaining a bulletin board to track our progress, and visiting classrooms to emphasize the importance of this effort.  A single penny can purchase a pencil for a girl in Afghanistan; our collective pennies can purchase school supplies and even build a school facility. To learn more about this effort I highly recommend Mortenson's bestselling book Three Cups of Tea.

Books of Hope will involve many classes at AEA creating academic books to be sent to the Lungula School in Uganda.  The Lungula School is in desperate need of learning materials as well as an adequate school building.  Through the experience of creating books in the areas of English, Math, Science, Social Science, Culture, Art, Music, and Health Education, AEA students will raise their awareness of international issues and live up to the IB emphasis on service to our world.

The first books will be shipped to Uganda in May, 2009.