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Shindand Airmen help open school in Herat Province

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Joe Del Campo
  • 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group
SHINDAND, Afghanistan --  Airmen from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group worked in conjunction with coalition partners and Afghan allies May 12 to help open a school in the village of Mandel located Southwest of Shindand in the Herat Province.

The school is the product of a $180,000 commander emergency response program initiative and the combined effort of American and Italian Coalition Forces and the Shindand District civil and military leaders. Authorities estimate the new, ten-room schoolhouse will house and help educate approximately 1,200 children.

The children of the Mandel School were also treated to an added bonus when they were surprised with new backpacks and other school supplies put together by the military team from Shindand. The donations were made possible from individual volunteers stateside.

Colonel Larry Bowers, 838th AEAG commander, laid the first cornerstone of the schoolhouse when construction began last September and was on hand to help cut the ceremonial ribbon.

"I promised the citizens of Mandel that I would come back to help open the school. The future of Afghanistan lies in its children" said Colonel Bowers. "This school was built with a lot of coordination between coalition forces and the leaders of the Shindand community. Hopefully, it will help focus efforts on education, progress and peace rather than war."

The Shindand District Caretaker, Abdul Hamid Noor, supported Colonel Bowers' sentiment.

"This is a great pride for all Shindand villagers, especially for the people of Mandel" said Abdul. "The work of the coalition forces and the Afghan people will help the village after three decades of war and ensure Afghanistan will prosper peacefully."

The opening of the school not only benefitted the village of Mandel but furthered the coalition efforts to build popular support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

"This is the very first time that someone from outside Mandel Village has focused on our village and built a school or buildings for our children," said Haji Sohrab Khan, a Mandel village elder.