RAF personnel help build new school for Afghan children
27 May 08
A school in a remote, mountainous area of Afghanistan is preparing to welcome its first pupils thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated RAF Regiment personnel.
The dedicated RAF Regiment team has worked to create a new school for children in Afghanistan
[Picture: RAF]
Flight Lieutenant Jim Smith and Sergeant Taff Burton are spearheading a $1 million battle to improve life for thousands of Afghan villagers whose lives have been affected by the years of conflict in the country. Financing and overseeing the building of a 10 room school in the isolated village of Mulla Abdulla Kariz is just one of their achievements, but it’s the one they are most proud of.
For many communities living without water and power, basic medical care and education, the RAF has provided a vital lifeline since NATO took over control of the region from the United States in 2007. In the last 12 months, the Force Protection Wing has launched a raft of projects to ease the plight of thousands of local people, from providing safe water to the ambitious school building project, funded by a $1 million donation by the UK government.
Working alongside the RAF Regiment’s 15 Sqn, Flt lt Smith and Sgt Burton have played a key role installing generators at Kandahar International Airport, proving power for security systems, and fresh water and sanitation for the homes of civilian workers, living in rundown concrete apartment blocks built by the Russian military in the 1980s.
Flt Lt Smith said:
"The school is the crowning glory of what has been a successful hearts and minds campaign. It will be opening in a couple of weeks and will make a huge difference. By improving the quality of life for so many Afghan people, 7 Force Protection Wing has made a massive contribution to the overall force protection at Kandahar Air Base and the long term development and prosperity of the region."
The RAF hopes the school with improve life for thousands of Afghan villagers
[Picture: RAF]
The RAF team has also launched an ambitious project to supply power to the village of Qazi Kariz, installing an electrical grid supplying the local school and mosque. The lack of clean water is one of the major causes of disease that blights the lives of local people caught up in the fighting with Taliban militia, while inadequate water supplies can have devastating effects on isolated communities trying to survive by growing their own food in the arid desert conditions.
Working with tribal leaders in the village of Morghan Kechah, the RAF team brought in power diggers to create irrigation channels, diverting water over a 20 km network from the Tarnak river.
The RAF humanitarian aid programme has provided fresh sanitised drinking water for the entire community in the village of Mowmand, repairing damaged water supplies and creating two new wells. Flt Lt Smith said:
"This kind of work shows how effective hearts and minds operations can be," Flt Lt Smith added. "It’s great to be able to make a difference and help people lead normal lives."
This article first appeared in the 23 May 2008 issue of RAF News: Voice of the Royal Air Force