GREG MORTENSON, AUTHOR OF THREE CUPS OF TEA,
INSPIRES STUDENTS AT NOTRE DAME
HIGH SCHOOL SAN JOSE

Greg Mortenson, Author of Three Cups of Tea, returns to Notre Dame High School in San Jose to speak to this year’s Freshman class about his quest to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Greg Mortenson is the co-founder and Executive Director of nonprofit Central Asia Institute. Since a 1993 climb on Pakistan's K2, he has dedicated his life to promote community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson is also co-author of New York Times best-seller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School At A Time.

“Once again, Greg Mortenson inspires our young women with his story of how one person can make an amazing difference in the world. His ability to build schools in communities where girls are being given the opportunity of an education for the first time hits very close to the hearts of students here at Notre Dame San Jose, a Catholic College Preparatory High School for young women from very diverse backgrounds and beliefs,” says Diane Pelosi Saign, President of Notre Dame San Jose.

Greg Mortenson shared an African proverb with the Freshman class at Notre Dame San Jose, "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a community." When a boy goes to school, it's assumed he will leave his village and work. But a girl stays. She grows into a woman, bears healthier children, and encourages them to be educated. Mortenson also gave the students a deeper understanding of the word "jihad." “We know about that word in one context--a violent quest. But the word has other meanings--reflecting other pursuits. But before beginning a jihad, you must ask permission from your mother. If the mother is educated--she's less likely to give approval for a violent mission,” Mortenson said.

After Greg Mortenson visited Notre Dame San Jose last year the students wanted to find a way they could support his work. The $2,850 raised by this year’s Annual Charity Powder Puff Football classic was given to Greg Mortenson’s non-profit agency Central Asia Institute.