PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – After two years of coordination and planning, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team joined local high school students to celebrate the new Lincoln Learning Center at the Sharana library in Paktika province, Afghanistan, June 5.
The LLC is a facility within the library that offers computers and free internet access, as well as a collection of story books, text books and reference books in the Dari, Pashto and English languages.
When the PRT arrived at the library approximately 25 young Afghan men were already reading and surfing the Internet. From popular American story books like “Goodnight Moon” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” to Afghan folklore and poetry, to Afghan and American history books, the LLC offers little bit of everything for the Sharana community.
“This is really impressive,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Mike Hammond, PRT information operations officer, from Huntsville, Ala. “The fact that the youth in this province now have a connection to the outside world will be invaluable.”
The LLC is part of a worldwide program called American Corners. There are more than 400 of these facilities around the world. In each country, including Afghanistan, the learning centers are a joint venture between the U.S. and the host government.
Each Afghan LLC is managed by a coordinator. In Paktika’s case, that coordinator is Yama Toulah, who speaks some English and has teaching experience.
“Everyone is welcome, but it usually ends up being students,” Toulah said. “It is very useful for Sharana people because the Internet is free and we have books on all different information.”
Toulah said he opened the LLC to the public several days prior to the PRT’s visit and the facility was full of students every day. For Wendy Zama, information resource officer from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, this LLC represents yet another opportunity to help improve education in Afghanistan.
“I hope it will become as active, as vibrant and as busy as all the other LLCs around Afghanistan,” Zama said. “We hope people turn away from extremism and become more aware of the world.”
Zama said security is usually the most significant problem when it comes to the LLCs. However, she said the security situation is different from province to province in Afghanistan, and the security of this particular LLC has been considered.
“Today is a very important day,” said U.S. Department of State Political Adviser Justin Kolbeck, as he addressed the crowd of students and PRT members. “Education need not be limited to the classroom and should not only take place when we are young.”
During his speech, Kolbeck talked about President Abraham Lincoln, for whom the LLC is named, and how Lincoln is best known for leading the U.S. through the Civil War.
Although the LLC is open to men, women and children of all ages, Afghan youth are expected to benefit from this facility the most. Kolbeck discussed Lincoln’s youth, specifically his dedication to reading and learning.
“Education is a life-long journey and is just as important to old guys like me as it is to young people like you,” Kolbeck told the students. “It is also something that can never be taken away from us.”
After the speeches, students asked PRT and embassy personnel to arrange computer and English language classes at the LLC, as well as additional books in Pashto.
Despite these concerns, the attendees were genuinely interested in opening a dialogue with U.S. representatives on topics ranging from foreign policy to pursuing higher education in the U.S.
“I encourage you to study hard, learn about your history, mathematics, the cultures of other countries, science and the Pashto language,” Kolbeck told the students. “With this education, you can make Afghanistan a better place.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2011 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 71679 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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