Rescued American Repays Pakistan Villagers by Building Schools

Mortenson has traveled the seemingly impenetrable paths of rural Pakistan, fighting the elements, poverty, fatwas against him from corrupt mullahs, death threats from Americans who consider him a traitor for helping Muslim children, separation from his family, and a terrifying kidnapping to make true on his promise. In 1993, mountain-climber Greg Mortenson nearly lost his life trying to climb one of the world's highest mountains, K2 in northern Pakistan. Reeling from his failed attempt, Mortenson stumbled into the village of Korphe in Pakistan's Karakoram Himalaya region. He was inspired and impetuously made a promise to the village's leader, Haji Ali: I will build you a school.