Charlotte Observer (NC)

Charlotte Observer (NC)

September 9, 2007

Monday Lecture at UNCC: Mortenson to speak about journey that led him to build schools

Staff Report

Greg Mortenson traveled through rural Pakistan, enduring death threats and fatwas issued against him, to promote peace and the construction of schools for poor Pakistani children and Afghan Muslim youth.

On Monday, Mortenson will speak at UNC Charlotte about his experiences and the book that followed.

Mortenson co-authored "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time" with David O. Relin after his journey.

He'll give a public lecture and book signing at 7 p.m. Monday in Robinson Hall's Belk Theatre.

UNCC's Honors Program picked "Three Cups of Tea" as its summer reading selection.

UNCC reports that 240 students in the University Honors Program read the book, along with 24 of their professors.

So did 400 students from the Academy of International Studies at Independence High School and language arts students and teachers from Vance High School.

Mortenson also plans to visit Independence High School students Monday for a discussion and book signing.

Mortenson's book recounts his journey, which began after a failed attempt to climb Pakistan's K2, the world's second-highest mountain, in 1993. Exhausted and disoriented, Mortenson wandered away from his climbing group into the desolate area of northern Pakistan.

Alone, without food, water, or shelter, he ended up in an impoverished Pakistani village, where villagers nursed him back to health.

While recovering, he observed the village's children outdoors, scratching their school lessons in the dirt with sticks. After he recovered, he promised that he would return to build the children a school.

In the 14 years since, he has built a humanitarian campaign and become the director of the Central Asia Institute, building 55 schools serving Pakistan and Afghanistan's poor children, especially girls.

At the public lecture Monday, UNCC students and high school students will start a fundraising campaign to help Mortenson build another school.

Details: www.threecupsoftea.com

http://www.charlotte.com/274/story/270231.html