The education of girls in all corners of the world is a passion of mine.  As an African poverb states: "Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community."  Or put another way: "You can hand out condoms, drop bombs, build roads, or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated a society won’t change."  ~ Greg Mortenson.

I want to tell you about a hero of mine.  Greg Mortenson.  Greg is the author of the book “Three Cups Of Tea”.  I believe I have mentioned him and his book before.  If you haven’t heard of him before, perhaps you have now thanks to the “news” show 60 Minutes.  They did a story on Greg and the non-profit organization he both founded and is the Executive Director of, the Central Asia Institute (CAI) as well as Pennies For Peace.

Greg Mortenson tells the story of how, after failing to summit K2 and becoming lost in 1993 he “stumbled” into a village in Pakistan called Korfe, with the help of porters. There the people cared for him and nursed him back to health.  He then vowed to go back to the village and build a school there.  Which he did.  Since that time he has gone back time and again to build more and more schools across Pakistan and into Afghanistan.  His emphasis has been on educating girls and that has extended into also building/providing community centers for the women of these villages where they also can learn to support themselves, their families and each other. 

60 Minutes got wind of an audit of CAI’s FY 2009 finances and has decided to run with the story.  I did not watch the 60 Minutes program and frankly I don’t believe they or most any other “news” programs give accurate information and views of the stories they cover.  It seems apparent to me that they simply smelled a possible scandal and went with it with little regard to the possible damage they can inflict on a worthwhile cause and the people that benefit from his work.

Being a supporter of CAI, I was sent an email informing me of the upcoming 60 Minutes news story which I felt was a positive move on their part.  Although Mr. Mortenson did not appear in person on the program, both he and CAI have responded to all the questions that 60 Minutes submitted to them which you can see here,  as well as providing statements which you can see here. 

So many of the people we look up to in this world let us down and our heroes turn into idols of clay and I feared that perhaps this hero of mine might be just one more.  I felt discouraged and saddened but felt that this just wasn’t right.  So I have read anything I could find to try and get a handle on what the situation really is.  How can we know who to believe in this world?  That being asked, my answer is certainly not 60 Minutes.  Their interest in telling the story is only in their bottom line of ratings and scandals sell even when there really is no scandal. 

From what I have been able to discern, the matter of the FY 2009 financial audit was already being handled appropriately by CAI and Mr. Mortenson, even before 60 Minutes began their “investigation”.  CAI’s lawyers spotted a potential problem that could arise if they were audited by the IRS.  They then asked counsel “to conduct a thorough review of CAI’s activities, its finances, and its relationship with Greg.   As a result of this review and analysis, which occurred over several months, CAI’s counsel concluded that CAI is not providing excess benefits to Greg” 

I feel that CAI and Mr. Mortenson are being above board on this matter and I continue to stand behind them with my support.  I hope any of you who did watch this 60 Minutes program will take a closer look at the Central Asia Institute and at the work Greg Mortenson has provided them. I feel confident that you will agree that 60 Minutes is NOT providing a fair and objective view of the circumstances.  It is my hope that you will also speak out in favor of Greg Mortenson and CAI and that as you learn about their programs, you will be inspired to contribute in what ever way available to you.  Please don’t let the “railroad reporting” of 60 Minutes be the final voice.

Links:

https://www.ikat.org/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42647480/ns/today-books/?GT1=43001

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_4d3125cc-67d7-11e0-b861-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.ikat.org/wp-includes/documents/boardstatement4-16-11.pdf

http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102268008687-130/60minutesresponses.pdf

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/15/60minutes/main20054397.shtml?tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel