Clean Water, Safe Food, Larger Classrooms will Help Keep Students in School

U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Susan M. Elliott and Deputy Chairman of Rudaki District Mavjuda Boboeva cut the ribbon to mark the opening of Comprehensive School #120.

Arlington, VA (August 14, 2014) – Counterpart International completed a pair of Small Reconstruction Projects (SRPs) to schools in Moldova and Tajikistan, funded by the U.S. Department of State Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia. Opening ceremonies for the schools were hosted on Friday, August 8 and attended by the U.S. Ambassador to each country and representatives from the countries’ governments.

In Chisinau, Moldova, the Counterpart team improved hygiene and sanitary conditions at the Public School in Gradiste Village. The school’s kitchen facility, including food storage facility and entrance hall, received its first renovation since the school was founded in 1972 and ventilation and water supply systems were updated. Over 250 children ages 6-16 will now have access to clean drinking water and safely prepared food. A new industrial size oven, fridge and freezer were also donated by the Latter-Day Saints Charities.

“It was a truly a pleasure to be able to celebrate the completion of the SRP, Public School in Gradiste Village,” said Counterpart’s Moldova Country Program Director Vladimir Cerbov. “Our team was tremendously blessed to implement such a remarkable project. There is no doubt whatsoever that our appreciation of the completed project goes forward to the donor. We express our gratitude for the generous support and contribution!”

Counterpart also hosted an opening ceremony for the newly renovated educational unit at the Comprehensive School #120 of Rudaki District, Tajikistan. The school provides primary level education for 191 children ages 7-15 and required renovations to four of its eight classrooms to accommodate all of its students. Due to the lack of classroom space, children were forced to walk between two to five kilometers to already-overcrowded schools which led to a drop in enrollment. Reconstruction projects replaced doors, windows, floors and hallways, and updated the electrical system and installed lighting in every classroom.

“Counterpart’s renovation works are a great example to others. We were in great need of these four additional classrooms,” remarked Comprehensive School #120 Director Nuriddin Kosimov. “The renovated four large classrooms, with support facilities, significantly improved the school’s infrastructure. 250 more students in our school now have access to modern classrooms. On behalf of school administration, staff and children I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the donor organization and Counterpart International who contributed to the implementation of this great project.”

Counterpart International’s Humanitarian Assistance Small Reconstruction Projects (SRPs) address urgent humanitarian issues and improve the standard of living of beneficiaries by providing access to facilities and services that were previously lacking and/or by structurally improving existing buildings. SRPs focus on small public institutions that serve a humanitarian purpose such as shelter, health, feeding or education to targeted populations including orphans, elderly pensioners, hospital or clinic patients and school children.

Rang Hee Kim, Counterpart International’s Senior Director of Humanitarian Assistance, receives a Certificate of Appreciation from the director of the Public School in Gradiste Village, Moldova.

For more information on the Moldova project, please contact:

Vladimir Cerbov
Country Program Director
Counterpart International, CHAP/Moldova
vcerbov@counterpart.org

For more information on the Tajikistan school project, please contact:

Mumin Sidikshoev
Country Program Director
Counterpart International, Tajikistan
msidikshoev@counterpart.org

Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. For 50 years, Counterpart has been an innovator, changing the way people look at, and solve, global development challenges. Today, we are working with more than 3,500 local organizations, and more than 150,000 leaders — including women and youth — in 24 countries around the world. Learn more at counterpart.org.