Afghan National Army 209th Corps and 1BSBT Female Engagement Team contribute to education

BALKH, AFGHANISTAN

10.04.2010

Courtesy Story

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

By Capt. Lisa M. Kirby

BALKH, Afghanistan -- The Afghan National Army’s 209th Corps along with soldiers of the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division's Female Engagement Team donated nearly $6,000 worth of school supplies to the Said Hidayatullah Naqshbandi and Kaka Kot girls' schools in Nahr-e Shahi and Dehdadi District of the Northern Afghanistan province of Balkh, Oct. 4.

Said Hidayatullah Naqshbandi School provides classes to nearly 5,000 females in the area, while Kaka Kot's attendance is roughly 400.

Currently enrollment exceeds each school’s capacity.

To better provide for the community, both institutions rotate shifts each day to accommodate the students' needs.

The Naqshbandi School, which is in a poor district, has just over 5,000 students attending the small school which made up of 15 tents. The school operates in three shifts and members of the FET were able to provide school items to 1,000 girls in the 4th and 6th grade.

Some of the young girls at the school peered out from the ragged tents as members of the 209th Corps and the FET assembled one notebook with a ruler and pencil inside for each student.

Zarghani Raie, the principle at the school, said that she is very grateful that the Afghan Forces and the United States Army and had visited the school because it needs help.

The Kaka Kot girls' school, located in the Dehdadi District near Camp Mike Spann, has 12 classrooms and five teachers for its 400 students. There, girls walk long distances to attend the school and were very grateful to receive the donated supplies.

During the visit, FET members spent time interacting with the girls by asking questions and taking the opportunity to get to know each other.

Teachers at both schools received blackboards, chalk, and pens to assist in delivering their lessons. The blackboards will replace the wood that they are currently using to teach assignments.

Members of the FET considered the day successful for their partnership operations. They feel that is important to get involved by connecting with principles, teachers, and students in the area.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2010
• Date Posted: 10.11.2010 11:12
• Story ID: 57897
• Location: BALKH, AF