By SSG Whitney Houston
On the 29th of August of 2014, Slovak soldiers were celebrating their national uprising with a five-kilometer coalition run on Kandahar Airfield. Their uprising was an armed insurrection against a fascist Nazi regime. The uprising began in 1944 and sent a message to Europe that they wouldn’t stand idly to their freedoms being encroached upon.
The 5K had other purposes besides bringing Slovak history and culture to coalition forces. It also served as a means to raise money for a school and clinic construction project in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Slovak Lt. Col. Peter Michlík, prior to his deployment to Afghanistan as commander of a Security Forces Assist Team, was given antimalarial pills to take prior and during his deployment. He was curious about the medication and started to do some research. While enquiring on the subject he stumbled onto an article about a Slovak Dr. Nasir Jalili, an Afghan-born professor specializes in mosquitoes and their mechanism of transmitting malaria to humans. However, the article wasn’t about Dr. Jalili’s profession; rather his origins of Afghanistan and his efforts to build a school and clinic in his hometown.
“When I stumbled onto the article about Dr. Jalili’s effort to build the school and health center in Mazar-i-Sharif, I decided that while deployed I could organize something to support his noble cause,” Michlík said. “I was convinced that supporting such respectable person could help to persuade people in our country that we are not only soldiers but also generous people of good will.”
Michlík explained that he felt akin to Dr. Jalili’s views of improving the situation in Afghanistan through education. He feels that if peace is gained in Afghanistan, that a ripple effect will ensue.
Dr. Jalili has wanted to build a school in Mazar-i-Sharif since he left it in 1990 to seek more education abroad. He has since become a professor, and in 1997 he was nominated by the Slovak Ministry of public health as a member of the expertise commission in mosquito control. He feels that Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of changing the world through education will transform dynamics in Afghanistan.
“My only wish is to help the children of Afghanistan. They are the future of the nation. As educated people it will open their eyes and end intolerance.”
To carry out his dream it has taken him a long time to raise the money from many sources including his own pocket.
“I have been collecting the money Euro by Euro from students, friends, colleagues, myself, from family and relatives.”
“The Slovak Land Force’s contribution was a big support not only because of the financial support, which bought almost 5 tons (5000 kg) of cement, but I also appreciated their presence in the area of the future school,” Jalili said.
Jalili explained that he has future plans of building more schools, and he would encourage people who are thinking about building a school in Afghanistan.
“We need to build as many schools as we can. I would encourage all of my countrymen who have left Afghanistan to not forget where they’re from. Don’t forget your homeland, people need your support.”
"The school will bring job opportunities for teachers, it will promote a better Afghanistan, and kids will be able to dream in their native country.”
On the 29th of August of 2014, Slovak soldiers were celebrating their national uprising with a five-kilometer coalition run on Kandahar Airfield. Their uprising was an armed insurrection against a fascist Nazi regime. The uprising began in 1944 and sent a message to Europe that they wouldn’t stand idly to their freedoms being encroached upon.
The 5K had other purposes besides bringing Slovak history and culture to coalition forces. It also served as a means to raise money for a school and clinic construction project in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Slovak Lt. Col. Peter Michlík, prior to his deployment to Afghanistan as commander of a Security Forces Assist Team, was given antimalarial pills to take prior and during his deployment. He was curious about the medication and started to do some research. While enquiring on the subject he stumbled onto an article about a Slovak Dr. Nasir Jalili, an Afghan-born professor specializes in mosquitoes and their mechanism of transmitting malaria to humans. However, the article wasn’t about Dr. Jalili’s profession; rather his origins of Afghanistan and his efforts to build a school and clinic in his hometown.
“When I stumbled onto the article about Dr. Jalili’s effort to build the school and health center in Mazar-i-Sharif, I decided that while deployed I could organize something to support his noble cause,” Michlík said. “I was convinced that supporting such respectable person could help to persuade people in our country that we are not only soldiers but also generous people of good will.”
Michlík explained that he felt akin to Dr. Jalili’s views of improving the situation in Afghanistan through education. He feels that if peace is gained in Afghanistan, that a ripple effect will ensue.
Dr. Jalili has wanted to build a school in Mazar-i-Sharif since he left it in 1990 to seek more education abroad. He has since become a professor, and in 1997 he was nominated by the Slovak Ministry of public health as a member of the expertise commission in mosquito control. He feels that Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of changing the world through education will transform dynamics in Afghanistan.
“My only wish is to help the children of Afghanistan. They are the future of the nation. As educated people it will open their eyes and end intolerance.”
To carry out his dream it has taken him a long time to raise the money from many sources including his own pocket.
“I have been collecting the money Euro by Euro from students, friends, colleagues, myself, from family and relatives.”
“The Slovak Land Force’s contribution was a big support not only because of the financial support, which bought almost 5 tons (5000 kg) of cement, but I also appreciated their presence in the area of the future school,” Jalili said.
Jalili explained that he has future plans of building more schools, and he would encourage people who are thinking about building a school in Afghanistan.
“We need to build as many schools as we can. I would encourage all of my countrymen who have left Afghanistan to not forget where they’re from. Don’t forget your homeland, people need your support.”
"The school will bring job opportunities for teachers, it will promote a better Afghanistan, and kids will be able to dream in their native country.”
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| Slovak 1st Lt. Peter Komar looks over the layout where Dr. Jalili will build a school in Mazar-i-Sharif Sept. 16, 2014. (Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Keith Robinson) |
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| A brick wall to provide shade, two large chalk boards, and thin mats are placed on the dirt have served as a school for these children in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Dr. Nasir Jalili called this, "a seemingly sad view." His efforts to collect donations from many sources including his own pocket will bring these children a school and health clinic. |
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| Students outside their school in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. The school is really just a brick wall to shade the children from the sun. |
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