This month our friends in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, as well as Muslims all around the world, are celebrating Ramadan. During this holy month, which began on May 27 and will last until June 25, Muslims honor the receipt of the 1st revolation by the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) through fasting from sunrise through sundown, prayers, and introspection. We sat down with one of our board members to talk about the importance of giving, not only for Ramadan, but to create change year round.

Today on Global Running Day people all across the world are celebrating the joy, passion, and sometimes pain of running. Running is an easy way to connect people all over the globe, and help them accomplish numerous goals, even goals like access to girls’ education. One person who will log a few miles today is Anna Robbins, a champion for girls’ education who is raising money for CAI during her first half marathon at the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series in Philadelphia, PA this fall.

Today is a big day for CAI – we’re celebrating 21 years of providing education to some of the most remote areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. We’re marking this occasion with a huge announcement that honors our past as pioneers of innovation and looking to the future needs of the people we serve. Please welcome the Pioneer Fund.

“The only way to prevent Afghanistan from going backward is education.” These words hung heavily in the hot air of a teacher’s lounge in a small village in Nangarhar province last year during a conversation about the future of Afghanistan with CAI Communications Director Hannah White. They were spoken by Muhammad Asif, an Islamic Studies teacher for grades 9 – 12 at Khodi Dust Girls’ Higher Secondary School. Muhammad is passionate about education, and he truly believes it is the only thing that can save his country

Earlier this year, we wrote about the urgent need to replace the Dasht School, a rural school in the Rushan district of Tajikistan whose Soviet-era walls were crumbling from years of harsh weather and a terrible earthquake that made it unsafe for students. Pennies for Peace (P4P), CAI’s service-learning program for students, teachers and community groups, has taken on this project with the goal of raising funds for a new school for the 60 children determined to get an education no matter where they have to learn.

As Mother's Day approaches (it's May 14th!) it's time to consider what mothers really want. Beyond gifts and appreciation, mothers all over the world want their children to thrive, to get an education, and to flourish.

This spring, Pennies for Peace is honoring six schools whose passion and creativity made a difference in their own communities, as well as communities in Central Asia. This is CAI’s second year of giving Peace Leader Awards, demonstrating our appreciation to the dedicated students and teachers who have shown consistent passion for spreading peace and education all around the world.