Posted on 05/13/2008 4:47:32 PM PDT by SandRat
5/13/2008 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- Nearly 70 members of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan delivered backpacks, toys and school supplies to the Zabuli Education Center for Girls and Women May 8 outside of Kabul.
American servicemembers from Camp Eggers visited the school as part of the volunteer community relations program to provide humanitarian assistance to the local communities in Kabul.
Master Sgt. Billie Wilson, a member of Camp Eggers' Force Integration and Training division, who recently arrived at Camp Eggers, said this would not be her last trip with the program.
"I did this as a means to give back, to be involved," Sergeant Wilson said. "I want to be involved in the rebuilding process of Afghanistan."
Because of cultural sensitivities, female members of Camp Eggers' staff took the lead for this trip. The new school, not yet a year old, was established to educate girls, a practice that was strictly forbidden during the Taliban rule.
"One thing I liked was that these girls got to see women in uniform and in professional roles," Sergeant Wilson said. "It certainly showed them there are possibilities."
Schools, private aid organizations and churches all over the world donate items for the volunteer community relations program to pass out amongst the Afghan people. The program has grown greatly in the past 12 months, said Army Lt. Col. Juan Montoya, the Afghan National Army General Staff Inspector General adviser.
"We used to have 20 to 30 people participating," Colonel Montoya said. "Today we doubled that. The program is growing all the time."
As the group's visit neared its conclusion, the school girls gathered at the school's vestibule and recited the English alphabet repeatedly at the top of their lungs.
This exuberance was echoed by Capt. Terry Whited of the CSTC-A Kabul Regional Contract Center, who served as one of class leaders during this visit with the students. "Each time I do one of these trips I think it is the best visit," Captain Whited said. "But today was the best one yet!"
Master Sgt. Billie Wilson takes part in a volunteer community relations program trip to the Zabuli Education Center for Girls and Women May 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan. During the visit to the girls' school, nearly 70 American servicemembers from Camp Eggers delivered backpacks, toys and school supplies to the students. Sergeant Wilson is assigned to the of Command Securities Transition Command-Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo)
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