Opening Remarks for Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation Reception
Ambassador Said T. Jawad
Embassy of Afghanistan
04/04/2006
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to our home. We are honored by your presence.
Allow me to acknowledge the presence of some of
our distinguished guests, tonight:
Ambassador and Mrs. Aboud of Lebanon,
Ambassador Al-Hajjri of Yemen,
Ambassador Al Mughairy of the Sultanate of Oman,
Ambassador Kolar of the Czech Republic,
Ambassador and Mrs. Lowell of Malta,
Ambassador Sen of India,
Senator and Mrs. Stevens,
Senator Reed,
Congresswoman Harman,
Congressman Boozman,
Secretary Jackson,
Ambassador Crumpton,
Princess Yasmine Pahlavi, and
Ms. Mary Cheney,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start by asking a simple question:
Can you write the history of the future? To answer this, I would
like to share a history that I have told to some of you. Two
years ego, a school in Logar, a province south of Kabul, was
set on fire by terrorists. The Moghul Khail School, consisting
of two large tents, was set ablaze at midnight. The next day,
every little girl, every student of Mughul Khail showed up at
the school. They sat next to the ashes of their burned out class
rooms, under the blazing sun, and insisted on continuing with
their lessons. This is the spirit of the Afghan people, when
it comes to education, ladies and gentlemen.
Afghans are determined to rebuild their country and President
Karzai is committed to work with the United States of America
and the international community, as well as the Afghan and International
NGO’S to further reinforce reconstruction, peace and stability
in Afghanistan. Those of you who have visited Afghanistan know
how rapidly the country is changing, due to our partnership
with the U.S. and your support.
In Afghanistan, the first day of spring is also
the first day of school. Two weeks ago, over six million children
returned to schools all over the country. 34% of those children
were girls. As dark winter yields to the fifth bright spring
since the fall of the Taliban, we are witnessing dramatic changes
in Afghanistan. I think nothing is more beautiful than a group
of Afghan girls in their black and white uniforms walking to
their first day of school in a remote village of Afghanistn.
Today, Kabul’s net student enrollment is
87%. This is the model that we hope to replicate in the more
remote areas of Afghanistan, where student enrollment is still
not as high as we want it to be. Thanks to organizations like
the Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation, we are closer to achieving
our goal.
However, a hard question still remains: what kind
of school building are they walking toward? After nearly three
decades of war, 80% of Afghanistan’s schools are in ruins.
Eighty percent. This is a devastating loss. It took us a half
of century to build them. Even today, only 29% of the schools
are under a roof. Most children sit under the shade of trees
or tents to study.
This is why organizations like the Rebuilding
Afghanistan Foundation are so essential, and why the accomplishments
of Elizabeth, Alexandra and my friend Malalai are so remarkable.
For example, the Mayar School built by the RAF
in the village of Sheik Yassin is changing the lives of 250
Afghan girls for ever by giving them a opportunity to go to
a descent school with well paid and qualified teachers.
Elizabeth and Alexandra, thank you for giving
your students in Afghanistan a new school, a new life, as well
as new friends here in America through your pen pal program.
I know that Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation
is trying to replicate this thriving model in Kapisa Province.
Please support them in bringing the precious gift of education
to a whole new group of children.
Ladies and gentlemen,
These young women have their own jobs. They are
all very busy and quite successful. But they are taking the
time to care for education and children. We are grateful to
every one of them. We are also grateful for the support of the
U.S. Government and Congress and value the sacrifice of the
U.S. soldiers, who are fighting to make Afghanistan and the
world a safer place.
With more schools, better textbooks, and trained
teachers, we are writing the history of our future. A beautiful
future, where the inspiring image of uniformed Afghan girls
attending classes in the small villages of Afghanistan will
become a commonplace reality. Investing in education is investing
in the future of peace and security.
And to answer my opening question, yes, you can
write the history of the future, if you invest in education.
Thank you.
