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Airmen aid Kyrgyz students' new school year in 'class'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan --  The long-awaited moment for the Kyrgyz-Americans educational development partnership finally came when the citizens of both countries gathered in Birdik Village of the Alamudun District to reopen a local school during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 1.

The colorful opening ceremony of Birdik Village School, a shell of a school about six months ago, was attended by more than 300 cheerful villagers, students and distinguished guests, including the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, the director of the Transit Center at Manas, several local civic leaders and the school principal.

The school reconstruction project, which cost about $540,000 funded by the Air Force and volunteer efforts from Airmen at the Transit Center was completed ahead of schedule, and the school reopened in time for about 150 school children of Birdik Village to commence the new school year, starting the day of the ceremony.

The ceremony also coincided with a celebrated day in Kyrgyzstan, known as "Day of Knowledge." To the Kyrgyz citizens, by reopening the school on that day, it symbolizes a long-lasting and perfect gift for the occasion from their American friends.

"We have waited for this day for a long time," said Olga Voroshikhina, Birdik School principal. "We are very happy now. Any child could only dream about such a gift for the Day of Knowledge. This dilapidated building now has a new life."

"I think that all the kids were amazed when they saw a newly renovated school," she added. "While other schools may not attract kids, the students of this school feel really happy here due to the help of the Americans."

The newly renovated school consists of 15 new computers and several TV systems, chairs, lockers and green boards, new kitchen and cafeteria, and a transformer and electric generator, along with newly installed furniture and equipment to help the children learn in a more conducive environment.

"On the 17th of April, 2009 during the ground-breaking ceremony here, we all witnessed what the condition of the (school) was at that time. The roof was leaking; the floors were decayed," said Mr. Kydykeyev Bilalovich, mayor of Birdik Village. "We can only say thank you and express our greatest appreciation to the Embassy of the United States of America, the Transit Center at Manas, and we hope that the bilateral relations between our countries will be developing in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation."

According to the local citizens, this new school marks the end of a stressful era for Birdik Village children, who formerly had to make daily trips to different schools, trekking for about two or three miles to and from schools in a neighboring village. Now that the Birdik School is renovated, they no longer have to go elsewhere.

The projects, awarded to a local contractor, was not only seen by the villagers as beneficial to just the school children; it was also seen as an avenue for creating jobs for the locals.

"As a result of the assistance of our American friends, you've got a wonderful school," said Mr. Imanaliev Sultanovich, director of the local construction company that was awarded the project. "We had a unique chance to work with experts from the U.S."

During and after the ceremony, the cheer of joy and gratitude that filled every Kyrgyz citizen's face, when they looked at their new two-story building, could not be over-emphasized. Most of them posed for photos with the Americans. Every time they crossed paths with an American, they expressed their gratitude by saying, "Thank you," with a broad smile.

Mr. Sultanovich personally thanked U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Tatiana Gfoeller, other American dignitaries, and the Airmen of the Transit Center for their support during the construction.

While all the Kyrgyz citizens present at the ceremony thanked their American friends for a big gift - Birdik School - the Americans felt they were just doing what a good neighbor should do.

"The Airmen from the TC at Manas are outstanding; their volunteerism and professionalism shown to help finish this project early was a true testament of the caliber of Americans we have here," said Maj. Johnnie Adam, Birdik Village School project manager and inspector from the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.

According to Major Adam, the villagers, over the last several weeks, were talking to one another about the Airmen who came to help finish their project and the word spread within and to surrounding villages.

The U.S. Air Force Central Command Commander, Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, who happened to be visiting the men and women of the Transit Center at Manas, had the opportunity to attend the ceremony of the Birdik Village School, as a special guest speaker. During his speech at the ceremony, General Hostage said that he values education, and he believes the gift of an educational institution to any community is truly a special and valuable present.

"Schools are among the most vital institutions in any community," he said. "This school and the teachers who serve here are truly a blessing to the children and families of Birdik. In this place, you provide the children a positive environment for learning. The renovations that we celebrate today are only a small step toward that goal; the rest is up to the children, their families and their teachers."

To the Airmen of the Transit Center, the general expressed how impressed he was seeing their relationships with Kyrgyz citizens and the local community.

"By reaching out, as the men and women of the Transit Center have done, specifically in the rebuilding of the Birdik School ... that kind of goodwill pays tremendous dividends over time," General Hostage said after the ceremony. "Developing relationships with the people of Kyrgyzstan is a wonderful benefit to the efforts of the men and women of the Transit Center."