In a tight economy, elementary students are learning the true value of the dollar — and the true value of the penny.

Nathan Bruttell/News-Herald Photo Smoketree Elementary school fourth-graders Rivee Watchmaker, 9, and Ashlynn Larson, 9, hold up collection jars for the Pennies For Peace program.

Smoketree Elementary students have joined Pennies For Peace, a fundraising program that benefits education in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. As part of the program, the students will not only study the cultures but also raise money for students in those cultures.

“What the penny does is it buys a pencil and starts an education,” fourth-grader Corra Smith said. “If you’re educated, you’re more likely to make an informed decision, and less likely to fight.”

Fourth-grade teacher Bridget Hagest brought the program to the elementary school and started raising money with her class. Monday, she and her students invited the rest of the school to become involved.

“All we’re asking for is a penny,” Hagest said during an all-school assembly. “We realize that times are tough right now and with the holidays we know that people are focused on spending on themselves. But now is the perfect time to start thinking about others.”

Hagest explained that just one penny in Pakistan and Afghanistan could buy a pencil, 15 cents could buy a notebook, $600 would equal a teacher’s annual salary and $5,000 would support an existing school for one year.

“$50,000 could create another school building and provide support for up to five years,” she said. “To support Smoketree Elementary for five years it would be $15 million.”

The students said they enjoyed learning of other cultures in the world.

“I’m not going to lie, I don’t exactly love school, but learning about the kids in Pakistan and Afghanistan has taught me to appreciate what I’ve got,” fourth grader Bradley Mitchell said.

The Pennies For Peace campaign is a program of the Central Asia Institute, founded by Greg Mortenson. The nonprofit organization promotes and provides community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia, according to a release. To date, the organization has built nearly 100 schools, which serve more than 28,000 students in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“It feels really good to help the children who don’t have a school in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” fourth-grader Madeline Bousquet said.

In the coming months, students throughout the elementary school will raise money in collection jars for the program. Hagest’s class will also read the picture book version of Mortenson’s story, “Listen to the Wind.”

Fourth-grader Mason Yates said he learned that the program is about more than just helping students.  

“Helping kids on the other side of the world get an education will help bring peace to the next generation … our generation,” Mason said.

Hagest said she hopes the students throughout the school learn the value of the penny and what it takes to make a difference in another country.

“Reading (Mortenson’s original story) ‘Three Cups of Tea’ was very inspiring,” she said, adding that she was thrilled with how quickly her students embraced the idea. “The kids really got into it and were very proud of sharing this with the school.”

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com