Marines, sailors help 1,000 students register for school

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

10.18.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, alongside Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, took part in a joint school supply distribution and school registration at the local school house in Musa Qal’eh, Oct. 11.

During the event, 916 Afghan children registered for school and were given a backpack containing two pens, two pencils and notebooks, according to 1st Lt. Scott Bayer, civil affairs assistant team leader, 1st Bn., 8th Marines. The school also received enough textbooks to supply each student covering grades 1-12.

With more than 70 percent of the Afghan population illiterate it is important to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to bring education to provinces around the country. Working with the International Security Assistance Force and the international community, new schools are being built and supplied in local villages at the request of the community and village elders.

The event went smoothly as Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, U.S. Marines and sailors on site, handed out backpacks while simultaneously maintaining inner security to keep the distribution orderly.

As children filtered out of the playground carrying their new backpacks the district governor Naimatullah, remarked, “Education is the light that shines through the darkness.”

• Date Taken: 10.18.2010
• Date Posted: 10.18.2010 05:39
• Story ID: 58297
• Location: KABUL, AF