Story and photos by Senior Airman Nathan Lipscomb
Gov. Fazlullah Wahidi is greeted by students of the Kunar Construction Center during his arrival at the KCC’s 7th graduation ceremony in the Shingal District, May 25. More than 100 young men graduated as skilled laborers in masonry, rebar-bending, carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring and painting.
KUNAR PROVINCE - Among those in attendance were Ted Wittenberger, U.S. Agency for Int'l Development (USAID) rep for Kunar prov.; most of the Kunar district sub-govs; area tribal elders and Kunar PRT members. As Wittenberger addressed the crowd of more than 300, he praised the teachers and administration of the school for their work in training those who would one day rebuild Afghanistan after decades of war.
“The demand for skilled workers to rebuild Afghanistan is high,” said Wittenberger. “I really believe this school can make a difference.” The school has trained more than 800 students since its opening in March 2008, and touts a graduation rate of more than 90%.
“The KCC is making better programs for our kids, our youth, and for that I’m very happy,” said Haji Hassan, Kunar provincial council chair. “We've a lot of people trying to make Afghanistan better, and stand on its own feet, but there are people who are also trying to destroy our hard work. We all have a responsibility to make this country better.”
Following the remarks of Hassan, Wahidi spoke of the need for jobs in the private sector, and how the school has helped to create them. “I’m once again glad to see the results of the KCC,” Wahidi said.
After the speeches were complete, the top 3% of each trade were called to receive their diplomas. After the graduation, students attended a job fair, where they met with contractors looking to hire skilled laborers.
The KCC is an USAID implemented project, to assist the GoA to extend its reach into unstable areas and engage at-risk populations; create an environment that encourages local communities to take an active role in their own stability and development, while addressing the underlying causes of instability and support for the insurgency.
(From left) Ted Wittenberger, Fazlullah Wahidi, and Haji Hassan, look at photographs of the students studying at the Kunar Construction Center.
A member of the graduating class takes photos of the ceremony with his phone.
A student graduating shouts, “I'm here to help my country,” after receiving his diploma.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Kentucky ADT helps Charikar Go Green Story and photos by Army Sgt. John Young
Kentucky ADT chief, Army Lt. Col Toby Peterson, presents a letter of completion to the head of construction for Brotharna Tawfiq Construction Co., May 26. They were there as guests of Shah Amiri, the Dir. of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL), for the ribbon cutting ceremony for 2 new greenhouses in the town of Charikar. Amiri plans to use the greenhouses as a training area to teach about water mgt., and how to extend the growing season.
PARWAN PROVINCE – “It took less than 2 weeks to set these up,” said Army Lt. Col. Toby Peterson, the ADT chief. “We plan on putting up more of these in different places.” They plan on using the new greenhouses as a training platform for many different aspects of agribusiness developments in the future.
Along with the agricultural benefits, they see other opportunities for training in irrigation and soil management. “You notice they both have a drip irrigation system,” said Peterson. “This system starts teaching the Afghans about proper water mgt. They already have a good base knowledge on it; we're going to let the DAIL run with it, and be there to provide technical support as needed."
This project should lead the people of Charikar and the surrounding areas toward better use of resources, and advance their ability to grow crops for their people. It's one of many projects the Afghan Govt and the ADT initiated in the Prov. of Parwan, and one they hope will bring education and bountiful crops for a very long time.
Kentucky ADT chief, Army Lt. Col. Ruth Graves, cuts the ribbon on 2 new greenhouses.
Graves gets a tour of a just-completed greenhouse from Shah Amiri.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Afghan Soldiers check area for weapon caches Story and photos by Army Staff Sgt. Gary Witte
LAGHMAN PROVINCE – ANA Soldiers check a house in the Tabay Kunj area, May 21. The village is a seasonal one, with members of the Kuchi tribe having gone to grazing land in the south. ANA, supported by ISAF, searched the area to ensure insurgents were not using the houses to store weapons caches.
ANA Soldiers and Army Soldiers with 1st Bn, 102nd Inf Regt, TF Iron Gray, move through a village.
From left, Army Staff Sgt. John Julian, a squad leader, and Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Mike, the plt sgt, with Scout Plt, HHC, 1st Bn, destroy a reinforced cave position above a village.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center