SultanAbrahimSchool Dedication

Project Implemented by Joint Development Associates  International

Funded by Tearfund UK

June 16, 2004

The sign post  on the Mazar-i-Sharif/Shiberghan highway and the almost complete school. Our  first visit to Charbolak was more than two years, just after the Taliban fled  the region. The first request that everyone asked for was help to build schools  for their children. Even in the midst of lack of water, no food, and little  shelter for those that returned from refugee status, schools were their first  priority.

Construction started in December, 2003, and is made for 2000  students, approximately 980 boys and 1020 girls. It serves 10 villages in the  Charbolak district of Balkh Province in northern Afghanistan, one and a half hours north and  west of Mazar-i-Sharif. It was built by community members, with JDA Afghanistan  staff overseeing material purchase, delivery, logistics and construction. It  consists of 13 rooms, which includes teachers and administration rooms, the  total cost of the school was $86,000 including all furniture for students and  teachers. It is designed and structurally built for two floors, funding was only  available for the first floor.

Ethel Frogosa our Afghan Program Director  and Bob walking the final meters to the school. The students and community lined  up and applauded as we approached the school. It was a humbling experience, and  I had tears in my eyes as I thanked God for allowing me to have a part in  helping to bring restoration and transformation to the people of Afghanistan. Sultan Abrahim is the fifth  school that JDA has completed in northern Afghanistan, and hopefully will not be our  last, as we have skilled staff, ready to assist in more construction.

All the girls  are wearing new uniforms, thanks to the contribution of a church in the  ArvadaColorado, which through their woman?s group  activities raised more than $12,000 US. Twenty-four women were hired from the 10  villages to make uniforms for all the girls and women teachers.

The men of  the village listen to the speeches from the various government officials, the  Minister of Health, Ministry of Construction.

Bob tells the students, teachers and  community members that they have within themselves the resources and there is  within Afghanistan resources  available to be discovered and used to fully develop themselves and their  nation. It is up the students and people to learn, to continue to learn, and to  discover, and to develop all their resources, and this school is built to help  begin this process. God has answered their many prayers for help.

More than  1500 people came to this event, riding their bicycles and motorcycles from 10  villages. Children walking from as far away as 10 kilometers. It was a great  celebration and the community out did themselves in donating all the food for  everyone.

The desks are made for two people each,  but because of the number of students, each will serve three. There will be  three sessions of school each day in order to accommodate all the  children.

A classroom is converted into a makeshift  kitchen as preparation is made for the celebration dinner.  Rice pilaf  (osh) is prepared in 7 large  fire pits.

These two plates will serve 4 people. We all  sit on the floor eating with our hands, as customary for most rural Afghan  people.

It is easy to  make friends with the people of Afghanistan. They are incredibly grateful for the help we give them, and so very  thankful for the West that gave them freedom from the those that oppressed them.  Here Jun Frogosa is with his friends, he has spent many days and hours in the  villages getting to know the people.