ANHAM Renovates Schools in the Parwan District

Girls’ school re-furnished

While much of ANHAM’s work in Afghanistan centers on providing subsistence to US Forces and other personnel stationed in the region, ANHAM, the Subsistence Prime Vendor in Afghanistan, also has a long standing commitment to investment and involvement in the greater Afghan community. Saber Baghi, ANHAM’s Public Relations Officer, initiated one of ANHAM’s biggest community projects, the 2015 Parwan District School Renovation, in the hopes of improving the infrastructure of 12 local schools and providing additional resources for local students. As ANHAM and local Afghani contractors teamed up and began working on the first couple of schools in the community, it became clear that many schools lacked the suitable structural features key to fending off the winter weather that aligns with a portion of the school year.

Upon the completion of the project, ANHAM will have repaired 24 area schools, which is nearly 50 percent of all the schools in the Parwan District.

ANHAM quickly made the decision to expedite the school renovation process so all facilities would have the necessary restorations completed by winter. Doors and windows were replaced, buildings were repainted, communal spaces were improved, and more serious structural issues were addressed to improve the general quality of the buildings. Upon the completion of the project, ANHAM will have repaired 24 area schools, which is nearly 50 percent of all the schools in the Parwan District.

As the project progressed, ANHAM realized that there were additional needs internally in the schools that ought to be addressed in order to give students the best educational experience. ANHAM subsequently contributed 3000 school starter kits to students around the district and replaced 1000 broken chairs and desks with new furniture made by a local company. Students were overjoyed to find pens, pencils, crayons and new boots in their backpacks that were delivered by the Parwan District Governor, the Head of the Education Authority for the Bagram District and select ANHAM representatives.