Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace present the Peace Leader Awards
The Peace Leader Awards recognize students in schools around the US who have committed to a cause and made a difference in their own community, or in the lives of people half a world away.
Our Peace Leader Award winners have shown dedication to our mission of educating children in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan by conducting multi-year Pennies for Peace campaigns, starting on-campus Pennies for Peace clubs, and supporting local causes.
Peace Leaders are big, small, young, old, kids, and adults. You don’t have to build a school to be a Peace Leader. Are you are quietly making a difference? Then we want you hear from you!
Congratulations to the 2019 Peace Leader Award winners:
Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center – Fort Wayne, IN
The Joy of Giving Back
“This is one of the programs that teachers asked to continue,” says Tamara Mullins, principal of Montessori Early Childhood Center. “Sometimes programs like Pennies for Peace (P4P) can seem too big for students under the age of 5 but the power of a penny resonated with our students.”
History of Peaceful Leaders
Kindergarteners at Montessori Early Childhood Center finished a unit on Discrimination & Peaceful Leaders during the American Civil Rights Movement. They learned that there was a time when people of different color drank from separate drinking fountains, had different rights, and were not allowed to go to the same schools as white children. Read more…
Deer Creek Chorale – White Hall, MD
Singing Locally, Giving Globally
After 37 years of teaching at North Harford High School, Martha Banghart retired and founded the Deer Creek Chorale in 2005. The choir was started for the dual purpose of sharing Martha’s passion for choral arts and providing services to the community.
In 2007 Martha met Greg Mortensen, Central Asia Institute’s co-founder, at a book tour and was inspired by the significant need for girls’ education in Central Asia.
“I am a strong proponent of education for all,” says Martha.
One year later the Inscription of Hope benefit concert raised $28,000 to build a school in Pakistan. Fast-forward to 2018, and the 10-year anniversary of the Inscription of Hope concert. To honor the anniversary, Deer Creek Chorale decided to raise funds for Pennies for Peace yet again.
Read more…
Hibbard Elementary School – Chicago IL
Hibbard 6th-graders went above and beyond for their final project on Identity & Community. Their teacher, Mrs. Morado, challenged her students to think about how their identity, culture, and community connected them to the world. Being 12 years old, her students did not fully believe they could make much of a global impact. That is, until Mrs. Morado announced they were going to learn about Pennies for Peace (P4P).
They Were Immediately Hooked
“Something that stood out to me on the very first day we introduced P4P, students we’re raising their hands to ask if they could go to their backpacks,” said Mrs. Morado. “They came back with change and dollars in their hands.”