U.S. embassy continues to provide assistance to Lodjirk village

DUSHANBE, November 24, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe and the Director of the School Partners Program for Spirit of America together provided additional assistance to the Lodjirk school that was recently refurbished by the U.S. Embassy.

According to the U.S. Embassy, they installed solar panels, distributed 150 winter coats for every student at the school, and donated medical supplies to the medical clinic located next to the school. In addition, they held a webchat between students at Pacifica High School in Santa Monica, California, and students at the Lodjirk school.  The village of Lodjirk now has solar lighting at the school and health clinic.  Spirit of America provided the solar panels, coats, and medicine at a cost of $13,000, and the U.S. Embassy provided transportation and logistics.

The school was damaged during the civil war and children had been receiving education at home since the end of the war over a decade ago.  The school officially opened on October 26, and teachers and students are now back in classes.

Spirit of America is a donor based non-government organization that provides quick reaction humanitarian assistance to U.S. military elements performing humanitarian assistance in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries in need.  This project is one of the many assistance projects the U.S. Embassy implements in Tajikistan on behalf of the American people. Since 1993, the American people have provided more than $984 million in assistance programs that support the economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, education, and security systems of Tajikistan.