Journey of Hope Fall 2015 | Page 25

3 W Students take notes in the CAI-sponsored Sykomal Girls’ Middle School in Ishkashim, Afghanistan. ASK, DON’T TELL: THE RECIPE FOR CHANGE BY JIM THADEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE N early 20 years ago, Greg Mortenson and a handful of like-minded partners were working to promote peace and education in the isolated and underserved mountain regions of Pakistan. Though Greg already had worked in the area for several years prior, 1996 marked the first time he was doing so on behalf of the nonprofit organization Central Asia Institute. As is the hallmark of our work to this day, Greg and his partners carefully listened to the people whom they sought to serve, and worked alongside them to bring literacy and education to individual villages. This approach of listening to the people’s needs and responding in ways that invited collaboration, rather than telling them what CAI thought they needed, was the “secret sauce” of our success. FALL 2015 There often was little or no central or provincial government presence in those early days. Nearly all governance emanated from the village elders or district officials. Among the contrast of the beautiful, snow-capped mountains and abject poverty at their bases, these were the days of our passionate CAI leaders forming valuable relationships and listening rather than telling: usually over a cup of tea. But over the last two decades since CAI’s inception, the voices of the central and provincial governments in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan steadily have grown in the rural regions. And while difficulty in effecting change in the regions we serve by no means has disappeared, our work continues to be carried out through thoughtful listening, intentional collaboration, and supporting our local CAI partners on the ground. PEACE LEADERS: FRONT-LINE PARTNERS MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS Working — as CAI often does — in restricted, prohibited, or semi-autonomous border areas presents certain challenges. We have the honor to serve these areas, and the governments of all three countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan — graciously have allowed CAI to function in these often-remote areas. However, recent geo-political events have made ongoing operations more sensitive. Consequently, locally sourced, on-the-ground resources have become that much more essential to the success of our mission. Having grown up and lived most of their lives not far from the villages they now serve, our project managers have their fingers on the pulse of regional life, and respond quickly and efficiently in the case of an emergency. JOURNEY OF HOPE | 23