BOZADIR VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan - Lt. Col. Ted Donnelly, Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, cuts the ribbon officially celebrating the completion of renovations of the Bozadir Village School Nov. 2. The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir village school?s gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. John Elolf)
BOZADIR VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan - A Bozadir Village School student sings a traditional Kyrgyz song during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 2 officially celebrating the completion of renovations of the school. The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir Village School?s gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs.
(U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. John Elolf)
BOZADIR VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan - A Bozadir Village School student sings a traditional Kyrgyz song during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 2 officially celebrating the completion of renovations of the school. The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir Village School?s gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs.
(U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. John Elolf)
BOZADIR VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan - A Bozadir Village School student sings a traditional Kyrgyz song during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 2 officially celebrating the completion of renovations of the school. The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir Village School?s gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs.
(U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. John Elolf)
BOZADIR VILLAGE, Kyrgyzstan - Bozadir Village School students dance a traditional Kyrgyz dance during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 2 officially celebrating the completion of renovations of the school. The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir Village School?s gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. John Elolf)
by Maj. John Elolf
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
11/8/2010 - BATKEN OBLAST, Kyrgyzstan -- Members from the Transit Center at Manas, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Embassy and Batken Oblast government held a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 2 to officially celebrate the completion of renovations of the Bozadir village school.
The $165,000 renovation project, funded by U.S. Department of Defense, focused on the Bozadir village school's gymnasium, exterior doors, installation of a new roof and overhangs.
"The biggest issue for us was the roof and we are thankful. Though it might seem as a little work to you, to us it will have a big impact," said Giekanov Kubanich, Bozadir village school director.
Mr. Kubanich said Bozadir village cooperated with other outside donors in the past but the U.S. was the first donor to respond quickly. "You were the first donor to have a quick response. By finishing this roof in a timely manner you showed high professionalism and responsibility," he said.
According to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ted Donnelly, Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, the renovation of the school is important to the future of the children who attend the Bozadir village school. "When we first met a year ago, this project was just a dream. No one thought we'd be standing here now having a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but here we are."
He added that the renovations on the school was a "tribute to all who worked on this project - Kyrgyz, Americans, military, civilians, local leaders, administrators, workers. We have a saying in America (and I think you have a similar saying here in Kyrgyzstan), that the children are our future. Looking around at all of you, I believe that Kyrgyzstan has a very bright future indeed,"
During the ceremony, 11th grade student, Manas Kazu Aichuruk, said the students were honored to be at the event and the renovations will have a big impact on their future.
According to Hait Akimov, governor of the Batken Oblast, the people of Batken Oblast are looking forward to working more with the U.S. "We truly believe in a fruitful cooperation between the U.S. and Kyrgyz people and we thank the U.S. for supporting us today."
Mr. Kubanich added working together can bring the two nations closer. "There is a big distance between Bozadir and the U.S. But with this type of cooperation, the distance becomes shorter," said Mr. Kubanich.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, ceremony attendees were treated to students singing and dancing to traditional Kyrgyz music.
