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BAGRAM AIRBASE, Afghanistan (March 28, 2008) - The first day of
school at Jan Qadam Elementary School, Parwan Province, was alive
with the throngs of excited children, dignitaries, government
officials and Combined Joint Special Operations Task
Force-Afghanistan soldiers who dedicated a new school library and
science lab, March 24.
Just after 9 a.m. on Monday, the Head of the District
Development Council welcomed everyone to the event, noting the
importance of the relationship between the school and all those who
helped make it a great place to learn. He specifically thanked the
children of Calvert City Elementary School, Calvert City, Ky., for
their partnership with the Jan Qadam School.
"The partnership between the schools is a community-based
initiative between the people and students of Calvert City
Elementary School and the Jan Qadam School and community," said Lt.
Col. Kenneth Watson, a member of CJSOTF-Afghanistan.
After the speeches and a prayer, the new school library was
dedicated to Afghan Gen. Baba Jan, a retired Afghan commander. Jan
donated the land to build the school on and the library is filled
with books donated by USAID.
The distinguished guests and visitors toured the school and
visited the new science lab. It is the only science lab in the
Bagram School District, which has 32 schools, including seven high
schools.
"School is the factory that produces positive individuals for
society," said Adul the Head of the District Development Council,
Adul Waquel. Jan Qadam hosts more than 1,200 students who are
taught in two shifts.
Village elders passed out backpacks to more than 500 students
and Calvert Elementary children donated notebooks, pens, pencils,
glue and rulers to their Afghan counterparts.
The partnership with Calvert Elementary is only just beginning.
In addition to the supplies provided, students from a second grade
class there wrote letters to the students at the Jan Qadam School.
Calvert students were mostly interested in what Afghan children do
at home, during their free time.
"My name is Erin, I'm from Calvert, Kentucky," one of the
letters starts out. "I can't wait to learn about your culture."
Most of the Calvert students seemed interested in the
differences between Afghan children and American children with most
listing their favorite sports and after-school activities.
"It bridges cultures and helps educate future generations about
other people who share our world," said Watson.
"We will pass the translated letters out to the Afghan children
and send their replies back to the states," said a Coalition
commander. "Some time in the next few months students from Calvert
city will travel to Ft. Campbell, Ky., to have a video
teleconference with some of the Afghan students."
"It was a great day for the people of Jan Qadam, the Ministry of
Education, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
and Coalition forces," said Watson. "It reinforces our ties and
commitment to the community and people of Afghanistan and helps
foster an enduring relationship."
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