The Center for South Asia outreach program is partnering with the first-ever Uplands Area All-Community Read, an exciting, intergenerational year-long community book reading programming in South Central Wisconsin.
Librarians in Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Spring Green, Barneveld, Blanchardville, Hollandale and Cobb have selected Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea.Stones in Schools is available in adult, young adult and early reader editions and will be used to build bridges within local communities and with communities half way around the world.
The book tells the inspiring story of Mortenson’s efforts to construct over 140 schools in the remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. His schools now educate over 64,000 children, including 52,000 girls, where few educational opportunities existed before.
As people read during the winter months, discussions about the book are scheduled in libraries, schools, civic groups, book clubs, faith communities, and among friends and families. The planners hope that military veterans who have served in Afghanistan and their families will join in some of the discussions.
The Center for South Asia is providing resources to the community in the form of speakers, film screenings and two Discovery Boxes that will be housed in the Dodgeville and Mineral Point Libraries.
Abdul Rehman Khan (PhD Candidate, Development Studies) and Dr. Aaliya Bibi (Pediatrician and MPH student, Public Health) are the guest speakers for a series of discussions running December 2010-April 2011. They will address topics such as Afghan People and Culture, US-Afghan Relations, Women of Afghanistan, and Food and Festivities.
"Friday Nite at the Movies" will take place at the Mineral Point Opera House and Sanad Shah (Pashto Lecturer, Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia) will moderate a Q&A after the showing of The Kite Runner (February 28) and The Afghan Star (March 25).
Rachel Weiss, CSA's Assistant Director, has worked closely with Khan and Bibi to develop multi-generational discovery boxes on Afghanistan that will be housed at the Dodgeville and Mineral Point Public Libraries for the community and educators to use. These boxes include picture books, children’s and young adult literature, academic works and fiction for adults, music CDs, films, cook books, Pashto language resources, lesson plans on Afghanistan for K-12 teachers, maps, clothing, accessories, and other typical objects found in an Afghani home.
During the past 17 years, support for Mortenson’s efforts has gained momentum and swept across the world, becoming a grassroots phenomenon. This support enabled him to found the nonprofit Central Asia Institute (CAI) which is dedicated to giving educational opportunities to children. It offers a wealth of resources. Mortenson has been consulted by high level U.S. military personnel, although he accepts no federal funds. He has spoken at dozens of military bases and had lunch with General David Patraeus. He has also brokered and participated in many meetings between tribal leaders and the U.S. military in the Afghan region, where his local knowledge proves to be invaluable.
As a result, none of Mortenson’s schools has been destroyed by the Taliban. One school was attacked two years ago in Afghanistan but the girls were back in school within two days.
The Uplands Stones into Schools project will hold a culminating event April 10th, from 2–5p, at Folklore Village in Dodgeville. There will be community-wide dialogue, Afghan music and entertainment. All are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact Rachel Weiss, Assistant Director and Outreach Specialist, Center for South Asia at rweiss@southasia.wisc.edu or go to: http://www.southasiaoutreach.wisc.edu/uplands.htm
This program is also sponsored by the Dodgeville Library, Grassroots, the Dodgeville Kiwanis Club, Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin, Folklore Village and the Wisconsin Humanities Council and co-sponsored by the Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia (CREECA) at UW-Madison.