Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson portrait

Greg Mortenson is an American professional speaker, writer, veteran, and former mountaineer. He is best known for his work in establishing schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for co-authoring the New York Times bestselling book Three Cups of Tea. Mortenson's efforts have been dedicated to promoting education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Early Life and Education

Greg Mortenson was born in 1957 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. However, he spent a significant part of his childhood in Tanzania where his father was a missionary and his mother a teacher. This early exposure to diverse cultures and the importance of education profoundly influenced Mortenson's future endeavors. He returned to the United States for his higher education, attending the University of South Dakota.

Mountaineering and the K2 Attempt

In 1993, Mortenson embarked on a mountaineering expedition to climb K2, the world's second-highest mountain, located in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. After failing to summit and becoming lost during his descent, Mortenson was taken in and cared for by the villagers of Korphe. This experience inspired him to give back to the community by building schools, particularly for girls who had limited access to education.

Central Asia Institute

Following his experience in Korphe, Mortenson co-founded the Central Asia Institute (CAI), a non-profit organization aimed at promoting education and literacy, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Through CAI, Mortenson has been instrumental in the construction of over a hundred schools.

Three Cups of Tea

In 2006, Mortenson and David Oliver Relin published Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time. The book details Mortenson's journey from a mountaineer to a humanitarian committed to reducing poverty and promoting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It became a major bestseller and significantly raised public awareness and support for Mortenson's work.

Controversy

In 2011, Mortenson faced allegations of financial mismanagement and fabrications in Three Cups of Tea. A 60 Minutes investigation questioned the veracity of several key stories in the book and the management of funds by the CAI. Mortenson denied any wrongdoing, but the controversy led to a significant decline in donations to CAI and tarnished his reputation.

Legacy

Despite the controversies, Mortenson's work has had a significant impact on education in remote areas of Central Asia. His efforts have highlighted the importance of education in combating poverty and extremism. Mortenson's story underscores the complex nature of humanitarian work and the challenges of ensuring transparency and accountability.

See Also

• Education in Pakistan
• Education in Afghanistan
• Non-profit organizations in the United States

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