Photo By Spc. Jamie Philbrook | First Lt. Emory Erickson, a native of Boulder, Colo., secretary to the general staff,...... read more read more
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KABUL, Afghanistan – If you are in Afghanistan and have the opportunity to meet or talk with Anna Hacker, it is important to keep in mind two things: First of all, she is on a personal mission and secondly … she doesn’t wear body armor.
“It’s a humbling experience, said 1st Lt. Emory Erickson, secretary to the general staff, forward, 1st Theater Sustainment Command. “Her will, determination and courage are the only body armor she has … she wears those all the time.”
When Erickson and a group of service members and Department of Defense civilians assigned to the 1st TSC and United States Forces-Afghanistan met Hacker, everyone in the group was wearing body armor and the service members were armed.
Hacker, a 70-year-old retired school teacher, wanted to build a school in Afghanistan.
“I used to teach there in the '70s and it was a very special place. I remember the hospitality and welcoming (atmosphere) of Afghanistan,” said Hacker, founder of Anna’s Educational Center. “My feeling is, if you don’t educate the young people, especially the poor people, the violence … will continue and things won’t change.”
It was during a 2005 visit to Afghanistan that Hacker visited some schools run by a local charity. The buildings were in disrepair, and when Hacker offered to try to help raise the standards of the facilities, she was informed that since the schools were in rented buildings, there was a good chance that the landlords would either evict the school or raise the rent. Either way the school would have to move.
“You look at those children’s faces … somebody has to help them,” said Hacker. Otherwise there’s no chance for that country or those people. If you don’t educate the boys, as well as the girls … it doesn’t matter what we do for the girls if those boys don’t change their thought process on the role of women and their contributions.”
This began a four-year journey to acquire the land and build, furnish, staff and fund what would eventually become Anna’s Educational Center.
Financial support for the center came from a combination of donations (the center was designed for free by an American-based architect), private funding from various sources (friends, American and Afghan businessmen, people Hacker had met or taught during her career teaching in various countries), corporate grants (computers and sewing machines), bargaining with different sources and in at least one case, luck. The American School of Dubai was moving to a new campus and donated a variety of furniture and other educational equipment.
“If you look at an overhead view, it’s like this oasis, paradise of civilization and higher learning amongst a ghetto war zone,” said Erickson. “It’s remarkable.”
The center has the standard classrooms (boys and girls are in separate classrooms), an administration section, library, computer lab and a kitchen.
The school is aimed at those children whose families are too poor to be able to send them to a government school. Every child is furnished with everything they need: from clothes to pencils, paper and books.
“I see groups of 20, 30 kids who are living in poverty … who are constantly under the threat of Taliban fighting,” said Erickson. “They all show up at the school and they all line up and march to their classes.”
The center also has a separate wing for adult women to learn how to read and write. Daycare is provided for their children who are too young for school. A doctor visits the center weekly to provide free medical care.
Because the women and girls come from poor households, time is also set aside for vocational classes (sewing and embroidery are taught). The handmade items are sold in local markets and occasionally on various American bases and at the U.S. Embassy.
“They want to be successful just like all of us,” said Hacker. “They just get fewer opportunities.”
The center has 350 students (250 children and 100 adult women) in grades one to four. What makes this school different is the age of the students.
“You can be any age up to 18 and start in grade one,” said Hacker. “(The older students are) missing the literacy. We have 16-year-old boys who are in grade one. You ask them ‘Are you happy you’re here?’ and they say, ‘Yes, I’m just so happy.'”
The goal is for her students to transition to a government school for fifth grade and beyond.
“Hopefully, we give them a greater opportunity to become working members of a society,” said Hacker.
The center is entirely funded by donations. Currently they are operating with a donation from the Chobani Greek Yogurt Company. This will meet the center’s budget needs until late next year.
Recently, 1st TSC soldiers were looking for new ways to help local Afghan organizations when someone at the U.S. Embassy suggested Hacker and her center.
The service members have been working with friends, family members and charitable groups back home to collect and eventually distribute the types of items that would make an impact on the lives of everyday Afghans (soccer balls, jump ropes, school supplies, hygiene items). These are the types of items that, while important, are not necessarily distributed between nations.
Following that meeting, Erickson contacted Hacker. Together they made arrangements for some much needed supplies to be dropped off from 1st TSC donations.
“It’s an eye opener, seeing how little they have,” said Spc. Michael Santillana, drive team member, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 1st Theater Sustainment Command.
After the supplies were unloaded and locked away in the storage area, the service members had the chance to tour the school, play with the children and meet Anna.
“It was a very warm experience, because it reminded us of our children back home ... a lot of us have children back home or grandchildren,” said Master Sgt. Rodrigo Blas, noncommissioned officer in charge, Joint Acquisition Review Board, 311th ESC, 1st TSC. “It was a very good day.”
Blas is realistic about the center’s future.
“She (Hacker) showed us some of the handbags and the beadwork these children do to try to raise money. The U.S. Army’s not always going to be here ... they have to be self-sufficient,” said Blas. “She showed us what they’re teaching those children to do, so they can contribute in some way to the success and the sustainability of that school ... it needs money, it needs resources.”
As uncertain as the future may be for the students at the school, there is one thing Blas was sure about. That certainty is centered on Hacker.
“She’s definitely a very special person.”
Editors note: This story is part of an ongoing series titled "Afghan notebook: Scenes from down range," which chronicles the community outreach efforts of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2013 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 107711 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Hometown: | TUCSON, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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