Diya: Supporter Comments
Multi-media testimony and words of support
Over the years CAI has received many words of encouragement, support, and thanks. These are the
“lights” that have given us the ambition, motivation, and drive to meet the challenges of our
mission. In Urdu, Diya means lantern. These lanterns are lit for hope and light on special
occasions. We hope you too find inspiration from these Diyas.
I have just finished reading all the fascinating pages of CAI’s link and am astonished all over again at how much so many good people can do with so little. When one considers the budget battles throughout the United States for “adequate” supplies for our schools I can’t help but picture the wonderful good that your teachers are able to accomplish with very simple tools.
Over and over I am so proud of Greg and Karin and all your people in this country plus the amazingly brave and determined men (and increasingly women) who are doing their part in the three countries of central Asia to see that their girls, and boys, are prepared to play a substantive role in the future of their land.
Thanks for writing. My gifts to CAI are among the top best places my modest funds can go.
Sara
May 19, 2014
Greg has been and remains one of my greater heroes and inspiration. God bless him and all at CAI a thousand times over for all you do and are. Peace be upon you and the troubled lands you seek to bring light and healing to through education and sheer human kindness.
Roland
January 20, 2014
I am a 13 year girl in 7th grade named Addie that goes to Charles River School in Massachusetts. I learned about your organization in English class with the rest of my classmates and I really enjoyed reading your website. I love what you are doing for these girls in other countries that really need your help. Education is the true key to success, because more educated people often manipulate the ones who are not educated and put them into bad situations. For some women education is their only hope, not only for them but for their children and their children’s future. I now realize that I wake up every morning dreading to go to school but these women would absolutely love to be in my position and go to school and someday even get a job, knowing that they still had a chance to succeed in the world. And I am so happy that your organization gives them the chance to further their learning and give them hope that they can come out of the state that they are in. Thank you so so very much, I just want to say please keep doing what you are doing.
Addie
January 14, 2014
My name is Nana from an NGO in Ghana, west Africa. I am really grateful to your team for the wonderful work you are doing to help women. I have gone through the website and read almost everything, it’s a fantastic job you guys are doing. God bless you for helping millions of women out there. I’m also doing my quota to help the marginalized in society, especially women in Ghana. God bless UN Women for trying to bridge the gap. It’s tough but we will get there.
Nana
July 11, 2013
Dear Greg Mortenson and all of the CAI Team: I’m a Chilean 20 year old student. I just finished reading Greg’s Three Cups of Tea and all I can say is an eternal “thank you”. The world needs more heroes like you, Greg. Keep doing what you’re up to and I’m really sure the world will be a great place for my children to grow on. You are a man who dreamed and made himself his dreams come true and, thanks to you, thousands of young boys and girls worldwide can dream of a better future. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
Montserrat
July 10, 2013
Dear Greg, Your book “Three Cups of Tea” has resonated so strongly with me that I recommended it to 670 friends on facebook as the most outstanding book I have read. You are to be congratulated on your visionary approach to poverty and education, and your wife and family are to be congratulated on their sacrifice of you and your presence while you do this community work. Having been in the beloved teaching profession for 46 years and undertaken service activity work in Cambodia with a group of students from my school, I can relate in many ways to the passion that you exhibit.
Please continue your vocation of building bridges (literally and figuratively) between the Muslim and the Christian worlds. This peaceful mission of yours is a great antidote to the war-mongering which only benefits those companies that manufacture the warheads..
Thank you again for restoring my faith in humanity. The pain, the trauma, the loneliness, the criticism and the rejection you have been through are, unfortunately, all part of the process of advancing causes and innovating… I feel for you and believe absolutely in your inherent goodness. Keep up the terrific work, knowing that you are spearheading something absolutely remarkable.
Di
June 14, 2013
This is Hannah of New Smyrna Beach, I am in the sixth grade and I am 12. I am a dancer, artist and gifted student. I have recently read your book Three cups of tea for a book report in my reading class. I enjoyed it very much! It was so interesting to me what you do and how you do it. You are a true inspiration. Thank you.
Hannah
May 15, 2013
Having just read an article in the Christian Science Monitor re the plight of women and their opportunity for schooling, I am moved to check in with you. The website is grand and gives lots of good information—-and hope. Keep up the good work!
Mell
May 11, 2013
I am Ali from Pakistan, a student at Virginia Tech. I want to say Thank You for spreading education and knowledge in Pakistan.
Ali
March 29, 2013
Thank you, thank you for these beautiful faces. God-Allah bless them all!
Bobbi
February 18, 2013 (In response to the blog post “Faces
of Pakistan”)
This is so very beautiful, the poem and the child. Children do often get it I think, when we adults still posture and bicker instead of following our hearts and loving our fellow men and women, no matter where they are. Thank you Genny for sharing this poem and your wisdom at an early age. You are an inspiration now to many more.
Bobbi
February 11, 2013 (In response to the blog post “Young
Iowan gets it”)
Journey of Hope is inspiring. The photos and maps are amazing. I wish David Starnes and all the team the very best in your demanding and wonderful work.
Charlotte
February 6, 2013
Thank you Greg Mortenson for the initiative you took to get all of this going…..thank you for staying at it through thick and thin…. thank you for raising the bar for people in Central Asia and for inspiring so many of us to step up to the plate….. Thank you to all at CAI who have caught the vision and continued to care…. The world is a better place with all of you in it. Thank you.
Roland
February 6, 2013
Peace be upon you and all of your families and loved ones as well! Keep up the good work, and may all good, health, ease, safety, wisdom, light etc be brought to you and may you be protected from any harm seen or unseen. Love to all.
Wobbe (The Netherlands)
February 6, 2013
Thank you for the information on Mr. Starnes. I wish him and the CAI team all the best. I appreciate being kept apprised of CAI’s good work. Your mission is the beginning point for some of the most important work being done here on and for our earth.
Mike
February 6, 2013
Congratulations on your new director. I am warmed by your continued progress and strength. Thank you.
Meri
February 6, 2013
Thank you for the info, and good luck to Mr. Starnes. Please send my greetings to Mr. Mortenson for being the inspiration along with the children of this area of the world.
Maria
February 6, 2013
Congratulations to CAI! The selection of David Starnes as the new Executive Director seems like a marriage made in heaven.
Therese
February 6, 2013
Very sad day for CAI and indeed for Girl’s Education in Afghanistan Pakistan and else where. inna lillah hay wa inna ilayhay rajyoon. Sad thing is that all these killers don’t know that killing any other person (Muslim or Non Muslim) is strictly forbidden in Islam. Also Islam makes it a FARD (compulsory) for every man woman and child to EDUCATE himself/herself. Sorry Greg….. Anyway like the famous Poet Allama IQbal said ” Don’t be afraid of thunder storm, it occurs to force you to fly higher” I am sure inshaAllah you will fly even higher and my prayers are with you you family, CAI and your mission. God bless.
Waseem
June 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “CAI
teacher, village mullah killed for supporting girls’ education”)
Such sorrow and deep sadness for a great loss to the community. The weighty burden of sadness is shared among all who invest and labor for a hopeful future for Afghan children and families. May their value of their lives and their community’s ongoing commitment, strengthen each one with unexplainable courage.
Debbie
June 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “CAI
teacher, village mullah killed for supporting girls’ education”)
Heavy hearts indeed, we are so saddened that hatred still fills so many people in a time when we should be coming together in peace and love to support and encourage one another. My prayers are with these families and with all of you there. I am very encouraged by their determination to continue in educating their girls and all their children. May they be 100-fold blessed in this. Thanks again and again CAI for your continued and unfaltering support and leadership in this important calling. Peace is a reality when people who have it in their hearts actually live it in the most difficult of circumstances.
Bobbi
June 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “CAI
teacher, village mullah killed for supporting girls’ education”)
So very sad; but somehow CAI will find a way to help the children get some or all their lessons. What a tremendously challenging area and CAI seems to be the only entity brave enough and caring enough to help these families.
Martha
June 11, 2012 (In response to the blog post “Fire
destroys school in far northeast Afghanistan”)
Truth will ALWAYS be revealed… Patience is my motto. Congrats, Dr Greg.
Donna
May 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “‘Dr.
Greg’ back in Baltistan”)
Excellent report! Obviously Dr. Greg must know once again how deeply he is respected and truly beloved for all of his various efforts for nearly twenty years, This report says it all.
Martha
May 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “‘Dr.
Greg’ back in Baltistan”)
It’s quite astonishing that they have such beautiful school in that remote place, thanks to Mr. Mortenson, the donators, and CAI staffs.
Indah
May 24, 2012 (In response to the blog post “‘Dr.
Greg’ back in Baltistan”)