PRT, Afghan government celebrate phase two of Lincoln Learning Center

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Depending on which survey you look at, the literacy rate in southeastern Afghanistan’s Paktika Province is between four and 24 percent. Those same surveys show the percentage of women who can read is even lower.

The Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team has spent the last seven months working with residents throughout the province and according to members of the team the rate is closer to four percent. The PRT and provincial government decided to take steps toward raising those numbers.

More than 150 Afghans and Americans joined together to celebrate the completion of phase two of the Lincoln Learning Center in the province’s capital city of Sharan, Jan. 17. The LLC is connected to the public library and provides the local Afghans with free things such as books, newspapers, DVDs and internet access.

Zhereddin Zaki, a 23-year-old high school graduate and Sharan resident said he enjoys using the internet to stay connected with his family and friends, “The internet lets us see all around the world and I’m connected with everybody.”

The facility is the 16th LLC built in Afghanistan. Sharan’s edition provides 600 books in Dari, Pashtu and English. It will also serve as a meeting place for youth groups and a place to hold classes such as ‘learning how to use the internet,’ said U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson, Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, who spoke at the ceremony.

“One of the most encouraging things about Afghanistan, and specifically in Paktika, is the increasing level of literacy among the children,” Olson said. “We’ve noticed there’s a very strong demand for the services the LLC and Sharana Public Library provide.”

The ceremony marked the completion of phase two of the center. Phase one construction began in June 2009 and finished in June 2011, with the second phase starting directly after the completion of the first. The PRT oversaw construction during the two-and-a-half-year span of the project.

The facility opened for Paktikans after construction ended on part one. Since then, more than 5000 people have used the venue, according to figures cited during Ambassador Olson’s remarks at the ceremony.

Phase two added a gathering room for youth groups looking to hold classes or meetings. It also included office space for employees, complementing the work completed in June.

The PRT’s engineers kept the local economy in mind when negotiating the almost $290,000 contract as well. The contractor came from Paktya Province, which sits about 18 miles northeast of Sharan. The employees who built the LLC came from Paktika, adding a local financial boost and incentive for area residents to ensure the venue is kept in good shape.

Gov. Moheebullah Samim, Paktika Province’s governor emphasized the importance of the community taking care of the facility and not damaging it. “We should take positive benefits from it,” he said.

“This center will be used as a learning center where our young people will benefit from the library’s books and will be able to study and learn.” Samim added. “I know the importance of this center. Most of the young men here, if they’re educated, don’t know the international language. We want to establish computer courses to strengthen that.” 

Zaki is one of those young men who said the venue already provides him that international connection.

“We’re finding the information about the world and what’s going on,” Zaki said. “For example, we found out what was going on in Libya months ago, as well as what’s going on in Pakistan. If we don’t use the internet here, we don’t have access to the world and what’s going on.

“It’s important to find out more information from the media as well and the internet helps us do that,” Zaki added.