AFGHANISTAN - The Afghan national police might resemble blue-colored ants if viewed from the air as they march single file across the sandy desert. With their weapons strapped loosely around their chest and shoulders, the 12-man force walked quickly, their eyes trained to the ground in search of explosive devices.
After approximately 15 minutes, the ANP and Special Forces Soldiers approached Mullah Abdul, a village elder who was waiting along the road to take the group to a new school location. He met them in an area surrounded by acres of wheat nearly three feet tall, their tips swaying with the breeze in perfect harmony; and behind them, the Gereshk canal stretching for miles, the quick current flowing into various irrigation ditches that extend out to five neighboring villages in this area alone.
"The walk is very short," explained Mullah Abdul as he began walking, motioning for the ANP to lead the patrol.
The dirt road turned busy with traffic after crossing the canal, but Abdul was unconcerned as he was familiar with the people, many of whom respectfully stopped to shake and kiss his hand before speeding away.
"Me and my men provide security for this village and several others," Abdul remarks as the ANP turned onto a narrow walkway, leading away from the canal. The Soldiers passed numerous wheat fields as Abdul explained this is one of the few villages in the entire Gereshk Valley that stopped growing poppy and now only grows wheat.
"These people really want change," Abdul adamantly explained as his wrinkled hands reached out to grasp those of the village elder he encountered along the path. After kissing the elderly man on the cheek, Abdul motioned for the group to follow him.
The red carpet and green see-through curtains were comforting to the group after walking in 100 degree weather. The elders, now 15 in attendance, sat down along the white-washed wall as the Special Forces team leader, Abdul and the ANP squad leader closed the circle.
"This is Mohammad, our chosen school teacher," remarked Abdul, introducing the middle-aged man to everyone present. "The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will pay him for the school year, which doesn't include the summer."
"We have nearly 400 students prepared to attend this school," stated the village elder, his low voice silencing the room as all present strained to hear. "We have never had a school in this village before, not even before the Taliban. Our children used to walk to the bazaar, nearly six miles, to attend school in the old days. But now, we will provide for our children ourselves."
This school opening comes shortly after a nearby school was destroyed in the Gereshk Valley and is the only school opening in the district this year.
"We will split the children into four classes a day," continued the village elder. "This will allow for each child to be taught daily, as two tents are not large enough to hold all the students at once. We will divide them by age but they will be co-educated."
All the elders nodded their heads in agreement, standing behind the village elders' decision not to separate the boys and girls, a practice that is very common in most of southern Afghanistan.
"We have notebooks, book bags, pens and pencils," remarked the Special Forces team leader, "but we only have enough teaching material for 72 students at the moment. However, we can get more, that will not be an issue."
"Abdul, do you still plan to build a school house," the team leader asked before the elders began to stand to leave the room.
"Yes, I will build the school with my own money," Abdul stated matter-of-factly without the slightest hesitation in his voice. "We need to host another Shura to determine exactly where to build it, but it will be built."
Abdul is a very wealthy land owner and prominent elder in many of the surrounding villages. He believes it is his personal responsibility to ensure the children receive an education, as he has the money to make that possible.
After concluding the Shura, the men began to walk back down the dusty dirt path toward the temporary school. The white circus-looking tents provided by the ODA were erected the night before in preparation for classes to begin today. As the group approached the tents, a multitude of children appeared, smiling brightly, clamoring in joyous anticipation.
"Do you have a pen?" a bright eyed girl asked in Pashto, pointing to her palm and drawing circles as she spoke.
"You'll get lots of pens when the school opens," responded a Special Forces Soldier in English, pointing to the village elder as he lifted the flap and motioned for the children to enter.
"I'm very excited to have this school so close," said a young boy about 14-years-old in broken English. "I used to walk to the bazaar, but this is much closer - and one day, I want to be a teacher," he said proudly, smiling as a Special Forces Soldier patted him on the back.
"And this is why we're here," muttered the Soldier as he eyed another group of children running over from a neighboring village.
After the children were seated in each of the tents, the school teacher ushered the men out, explaining classes were about to commence. Although classes officially start tomorrow and today is reserved for orientation, it is none-the-less a special occasion.
"This is a large turnout," remarked the Special Forces team leader as the group began its trek back to the firebase. "These people deserve this school and they are working hard to provide for themselves."
| Date Taken: |
04.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
04.21.2010 07:15 |
| Story ID: |
48453 |
| Location: |
AF |
| Web Views: |
159 |
| Downloads: |
134 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Subscribe
