By Lt. Col. Bryan Eckart
RSC-East Afghan National Police Team Lead
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Regional Support Command-East Afghan National Police team held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Charikar, Parwan province at the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains in eastern Afghanistan marking the completion of a commander's emergency relief program project.
A 2,132-foot stone wall surrounding the school was constructed to provide a safe and secure environment to teach Afghan children of
Charikar, Parwan.
Shahwali Shahid, deputy governor for Parwan province, Air Force Lt. Col. Bryan Eckart, RSC-East ANP team lead, Atta Mohammad Mateen, Parwan province superintendent, Karim Naimi, RSC-East interpreter, and several other members of the RSC-East ANP team attended the ceremony.
The Noman school in Charikar provides instructions for students in grades first through twelfth and educates nearly 2,000 students during three shifts throughout the day. During the ceremony, the Noman school principal, Mohammad Ameen, thanked the United States for their continuous assistance in improving Afghanistan.
"With your assistance, we have defeated communism and are working to defeat terrorism," said Ameen.
Shahid espoused the virtues of education in the future of Afghanistan.
"Western countries like America have everything because everyone strives for an education," said Shahid. "Afghanistan must continue to educate its youth so our people and our nation can defeat terrorism."
Of special note Naimi, the RSC-East Afghan interpreter, was born and raised in Khajaceiaran Village outside Charikar and attended the Charikar school as a young boy.
Karim and most of his family fled Afghanistan in 1989 during the civil war in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Soviet forces. Karim became a United States citizen in 2002. He was contracted as an interpreter and has been in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom since November 2009.
"When we initially went to visit the school, there was no wall for security and the principal and superintendent were worried about the safety of the kids," said Naimi. "Now with the building of the wall the students are secure. They can focus on learning and play freely without worrying about their safety. This is most important."
"It was an honor to be able to assist the local community while also mentoring a fledgling contractor in this successful project for all Afghans involved," said Air Force Capt. David Sulhoff, ANP lead engineer
and contracting officer's representative for the project.
| Date Taken: |
06.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
06.19.2011 16:06 |
| Story ID: |
72378 |
| Location: |
PARWAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
82 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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