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KAF community unites to rebuild bazaar school

  • Published
  • By Capt. Passion Julinsey
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  A community of volunteers built the bazaar school in 2009 and united again in December 2011 to rebuild one of the buildings burned down in October 2011.

According to Kandahar Airfield Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Shirley, volunteers from coalition forces erected one building in July 2009 to be used as a classroom for the boys of the bazaar's vendors. As the number of boys grew, there arose a need to separate the age groups and by May 2010 the Slovakian army and the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment had expanded the school to two buildings. The school serviced up to 75 students each Saturday.

In October 2011 a fire destroyed the older of the two buildings and partially burned the newer building, grinding classroom instruction to a halt.

It was not long before the spirit of volunteerism manifested among the base population. Within days, Shirley solicited volunteers base wide to tear down the damaged structure. Service members and civilians, including those from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, stepped up to the challenge of clearing the charred wood and pile of ashes.

"I want to be here from the ground up," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Davis, 809th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron airborne structural craftsman. He recruited other volunteers from the 809th ERHS, including Tech Sgts. Arlena Drummonds and Steven Clement, to work on the design.

Word spread quickly among the civil engineer community about the opportunity to contribute to the education of Afghan boys. Davis soon signed up the 30th Naval Construction Regiment Seabees and the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion engineers.

Initial construction began Dec. 11, 2011. Over four weeks, three engineers supervised a group of 15 volunteers each Sunday to complete the project.

"This is a COMKAF initiative for locals to gain benefit from our presence. The school is the people to people piece of the relationship, while the bazaar is the economic piece. Here, civilians and military members work side by side to support the education of Afghan youth," remarked Brig. Gen. Scott Dennis, Kandahar Airfield commander, as he watched construction of the school in December 2011.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony held Jan. 21, 2012, volunteers cheered and applauded when a young Afghan boy cut the ribbon in front of the brand new building. The school is a testament to the commitment of the KAF community to Afghanistan's children.