Students march to the ceremonial tent
singing songs of praise in opening ceremonies for their
rebuilt school in Sayad, Afghanistan, Oct. 22. Photo by
Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson, USA (Click photo for screen-
resolution image); high-resolution
image available. |
Taking a bold step toward that promising future, the Sofi
Baba Girle High School officially opened it doors in a
ceremony Oct. 22 after a coalition reconstruction project.
"Today is a grand day (for the community of Sayad). Your
school is ready to receive students," said Lt. Col.
Elizabeth Damonte, Provincial Reconstruction Team commander
of Parwan and Kapisa.
More than 600 people attended the opening, including the
mayor and the education minister of Bagram and Sayad's
ministers of information and culture and of education.
In her speech, Damonte thanked the contractors and the
community for their contributions in building the school.
She suggested that everyone involved in the school project
would see the rewards of their labor: children getting a
quality education. "Back home I'm a science teacher, and I
know the joy of education and educating children."
The reconstruction project took a little more than five
months to complete. In the meantime, the children of Sayad
had to attend school in tents, under tarps, and in open
fields. According to Maj. Carman Oldre, 407th Civil Affairs
Battalion, some families volunteered their homes to house
classes.
The reconstruction project was completed by ARA
Construction Company.
Before the ceremony began, guests and province elders
toured the school while workers were inside the school's
courtyard assembling desks for the empty classrooms. "The
rooms of the school will be hollow no more; soon they'll be
filled with students," Damonte said during her remarks at
the ceremony. She expressed gratitude to the reconstruction
team, and reminded them of their lasting contribution. "I
thank you now," she said, "and the children and all of
Afghanistan will thank you in the future."
(Army Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson is assigned to the 4th Public
Affairs Detachment.)
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