ABOUT US
CAST A PEBBLE WAS SERENDIPITOUSLY FOUNDED IN 2008 WHILE SEARCHING FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR MY PARENTS THAT WOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE BACK OF THE CLOSET NEXT TO PRESENTS OF CHRISTMAS’ PAST. I ASKED MY BROTHER IN LAW, WHO OVERSEES GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH AND HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A RESEARCH PROJECT IN BARAKESA, GHANA. THIS SMALL VILLAGE OF ABOUT 3000 HAD NO SCHOOL FOR THE CHILDREN.
THE CLOSEST SCHOOL WAS OVER TEN MILES AWAY ON UNPAVED ROADS AND DIFFICULT TO REACH. THE VILLAGE CHILDREN DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION. WOULD I CONSIDER FUNDING A SCHOOL AS A GIFT FOR MY PARENTS? I ASKED WHY THE UNIVERSITY DIDN’T FUND THIS VENTURE. I WAS TOLD THE UNIVERSITY, LIKE MOST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAD A MANDATE OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND USE OF FUNDS FOR ANYTHING ELSE WAS PROHIBITED. UNDERSTANDING THIS, I AGREED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE MATERIALS AND ARCHITECT AND THE VILLAGE PROVIDED THE LAND AND THE MANPOWER TO BUILD THE SCHOOL.
THIS BECAME THE WORKING MODEL FOR ALL FUTURE PROJECTS.
– RICK HASKINS
