Welcome to the Girls' School

     We arrived at the school, and were greeted by the local 'school board.' The guy on the left heads a local shura, which is like the council of elders, and the guy in the center is the head of the Citizens' Development Council, which is a kind of community council formed as part of Afghanistan's democracy efforts. The guy on the right is the school principal. (Click on pics to enlarge).

It seemed for a minute like the Martians had landed--students and teachers were all peaking out the windows or doors, checking out just what was going on. We were probably one of the few, if not the only, Americans they had seen that didn't have a gun and uniform.

When we entered each classroom, all of the girls stood up and greeted us by saying (what I think was) 'Hello and Welcome'. 

                                 

There wasn't much translation needed--this teacher is definitely in charge.

                                

In one of the classes, we noticed they were studying English--so I wrote 'We Like Afghanistan' on the blackboard. Then one of the students got up and proudly wrote the Alphabet on the board, under the observation of the school principal.

When listening to the debates about how we get out of Afghanistan, it seems like what happens to the girls and women is rarely a priority. If we do this wrong, the hope of these girls will be forever gone.