"Pennies for Peace" connects Idaho kids with those in Middle East

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Story Published: May 29, 2009 at 4:20 PM MST

Story Updated: May 31, 2009 at 9:37 PM MST

By Hasti Taghi

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IDAHO FALLS - It's call Pennies for Peace.

"Pennies for Peace is a program that really fosters kids to look beyond their own school and their own town, and their own state and country to the way children live in other parts of the world," says Principal Dick Wagner.

And it's changing the lives of kids at Linden Park Elementary School in Idaho Falls. After some teachers read a book last summer, it inspired them to get involved.

"The book was Three Cups of Tea by Gregg Mortenson," says teacher Lisa D'Orazio.

"He's a young man who went off to some foreign country to climb a mountain and the mountain he wound up climbing was not K2. The mountain was educating thousands of kids in a country far far away," says Wagner.

Mortenson's Pennies for Peace is taking place at schools around the country. And this elementary school is taking it seriously.

"Because the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan don't have schools so we're helping build schools and one penny can buy a pencil," says first grader Starri Blackburn.

"Now this may seem like spare change to us but for these kids, it's the keys to peace," says reporter Hasti Taghi.

"It will give them more advantages in life so they can be better people," says 5th grader Conner Williamson.

And after months of collecting pennies, it's time to count the contributions.
Today's deposit, about $85. Bringing the grand total to more than 500.

"Through these pennies, they're building schools over there," says D'Orazio.

"Greg Moretenson in the book mentioned that a pencil and education is the best way to fight terrorism so we're hoping to help a little," says teacher Shera Plum.
"So you're fighting terrorism right here at Linden Park Elementary School," says Taghi.
"One Penny at a time," jokes Plum.

The school hopes to make this an annual tradition.
They are also going to try to expand to other schools in District 91.

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