Building a School with Hungarian Assistance

The 100 kilometers-long trip of the HUN PRT convoy took five hours in a sweltering heat (nearly 40 C) on trackless roads through gullies and riverbeds, which is indicative of local conditions. At the destination, the local police secured the site where teachers, students and a number of interested villagers were waiting for the vehicle column to arrive. The ten-room school building had already been completed up to 70 per cent when the villagers contacted the Hungarian contingent for help. They had no money left to fund the completion, and as the Provincial Education Office was unable to contribute, they were referred to the HUN PRT.

Following the on-site surveys in April, the project was launched in May. The HUN PRT undertook to fund the completion of the school, thus it had a toilet built and a floodwall put up around it. The floodwall has a role to play in spring thaw, which may cause the currently hardly one-meter-wide stream to swell tenfold in periods of flooding. In their speeches, the schoolmaster and the district secretary stressed that the school construction has been the only development project for a long time in the village where some 900 families live. They noted that in addition to the floodwall, they would like to have a protective wall installed to prevent unauthorized entry to the school area, and a road of good quality.

In his speech, the HUN PRT commander said he was glad to hand over an institution in such a scenic countryside. He added that he would contact the governor of the province to make sure that this part of the country can receive more attention, and noted that he himself is going to explore the possibilities for further development. After the speeches the primary school pupils entertained the participants with their performance, then the ceremony finished with a common lunch.

 
 Text and photo: HUN PRT – PAO