The rehabilitation of the Art and Music
School in Kabul has been officially finished. Today the school premises
were opened to the students. The reconstruction works took almost 6 months
and now the school is ready to provide the Afghan children with the opportunity
to study art and music.
The ribbon cutting was done in the presence
of several local and international officials, namely: Mr. Mohamad Yunus
Qanooni, MoE, Abdul Ahmad Rassed, Director of Vocational Department MoE,
Mr Kinichi Komano, Ambassador of Japan in Afghanistan, Krasimir Tulechky,
Ambassador of Bulgaria in Afghanistan, Mr Abdul Haider, Ambassador of Afghanistan
in Poland.
The Art and Music School in Kabul was initially opened in 1974. Under the Taliban, the music lessons were banned. Photographing, painting, drawing or sculpting human figures was strictly forbidden. A lot of works of art have been destroyed. Girls were not allowed to attend the school. Many of the teachers have emigrated after the Taliban came to power. Yet, some of them have secretly continued to teach banned subjects.
After the regime has been removed hundreds of talented children have sought admission to the school. Although the building has been severely destroyed and even the basic equipment lacked, 50 students aged 12-18 have undertaken the painting, drawing and sculpture classes.
The school has been reconstructed thanks to the contributions made by Polish students in the framework of "One Zloty for Afghan Children" Campaign conducted by Polish Humanitarian Organisation in 2002.
The reconstruction works were also possible thanks to the co-operation with: Japan Embassy in Kabul, UNDP PIU, US and UK CIMIC, University of Kabul, Embassy of Iran, President of Poland, Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghan Ministry of Education.
For more information please contact PHO office in Kabul: phoaf@pah.org.pl