As part of the International Baccalaureate curriculum required in order to obtain a diploma, the IB students are required to complete a certain number of service hours, including one international project. This year’s IB students have chosen to participate in the “Three Cups of Tea” project and this week marked the beginnings of their efforts.

The “Three Cups of Tea” project is based off of the bestselling novel, The Cups of Tea by Greg Mortinson, the founder of the organization. It attempts to collect money in order to help promote education for girls in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan where it is otherwise ignored. Through his “Pennies for Peace” sector of the program, one small penny can provide a girl with school supplies; in other areas, it takes $600 to pay for the salary of a teacher for one year, and a good deal more to build an actual school.

The IB students have decided to take up the challenge of raising $600 through a series of fundraisers in order to pay for a teacher. Starting on Monday, January 11, hot chocolate sales have gone on in the morning before school for $1 in order to raise money. Since the international project is a mandatory one, several IB students have been in charge of manning the booth, which is temporarily set to run for two weeks.

Along with the hot chocolate fundraiser, other ideas are being thought up by the IB students in order to raise money. A series of these will most likely go on throughout the rest of the year and possibly expand into the next.

For more information regarding the Three Cups of Tea organization and how to help out, click here, or ask any IB student during hot chocolate sales.