ANA, ISAF partner to hand out school supplies, continue progress in Zharay district

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Tyler Meister | A member of the Afghan National Army’s 2nd Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Infantry Corps hands out stuffed animals to female students at the school near Combat Outpost Kolk in Zharay district Sept. 10. In total, there were 160 students, including 30 girls, who attended the event and received supplies.  

ZHARAY DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

09.10.2012

Story by Spc. Tyler Meister 

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii)

ZHARAY DISTRICT, Afghanistan - The Afghan National Army partnered with International Security Assistance Forces to promote the new school year by handing out school supplies at a school near Combat Outpost Kolk in Zharay district, Sept. 10.

Lt. Col. Gallam Hazarat, commander of the ANA’s 2nd Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Infantry Corps, and his men accompanied Soldiers from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division to provide the students the much-needed supplies and interact with local residents.

The 325th Psychological Operations team coordinated the event and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd SBCT performed security. In total, there were 160 students, including 30 girls, who attended the event and received supplies.

Some of the school supplies were purchased from the PSYOP Relationship Building Item catalog and the remainder came from U.S. donations. These items included book bags, notebooks, pens and pencils, hand-crank radios and winter jackets.

“I ordered supplies from Kandahar Airfield based on what the school has on-hand,” said Staff Sgt. Brooke Haygood, the non-commissioned officer in-charge of the supply drop mission. “I am blessed that Hazarat is squared away and truly wants what’s best for the people of Afghanistan.”

Although school attendance has slowly grown during the past year, Sardarwali Mohammad, the school’s principal, is determined to increase numbers at a faster pace in the future by providing a safe place for students to learn.

“We used to have less than 30 students and now we have well over 200 students,” Mohammad said. “Everyone is grateful for the supplies and the local villagers are very happy with the new secure compound.”

Mohammad said it has been difficult to offer classes to so many students with only two teachers on the staff, but the new supplies will improve the quality of classes. He said everyone appreciated the supplies and words could not express his happiness on behalf of his students.

“I feel the event went really well and the turnout was the largest I’ve ever seen,” Haygood said. “It’s also nice to mix it up and instead of a patrol looking for bad guys, we get to go and help children.”

Haygood said one can tell an opportunity to help the children makes the Soldiers feel good. He said the increased number of students in the region reflects the progress the partnered efforts have made in Zharay district.

• Date Taken: 09.10.2012
• Date Posted: 09.22.2012 07:55
• Story ID: 95152
• Location: ZHARAY DISTRICT, AF