Canadians Come Together to Put Desks in Kabul School

Canadian General's Dedication Helps Two Kabul Area Schools
By: Major Eric Chamberlan ISAF

KABUL, Afghanistan (June 4, 2011)- With the support of many ISAF volunteers, military and civilian, donations and support from the Rotary club of South-Napean in Ottawa, a project led by Brigadier-General Chris Whitecross culminated with the delivery of 30 desks and benches to a boys and girls school in Kabul on 24 May 2011, and a check in the amount of $2000 for school supplies to another.

There has been no lack of work to make these projects a success and there were always people available to contribute to the construction of desks, or collection and delivery of goods to the schools.

At the beginning of her tour in Afghanistan, Brigadier-General Whitecross quickly got interested in a school built over the last decade and funded by worldwide donations. This also allowed her to learn about the existence of a second school, this one for developmentally challenged children in the Kabul area, and prompted her to start projects to help the two schools.

"It started out as a simple thought, how could we help these students? They needed everything from desks to books to chalk to new black boards. There is so much that could be done, but we knew that no matter what we do, it will have real tangible effects on the lives of these children," said General Whitecross.

At the start, the project aimed at collecting any type of donations that could be of use to the schools as people rotate in the Kabul area. However, it quickly generated much interest from ISAF personnel of all nations and led to a very successful event.