A major focus of humanitarian aid in Kabul following the fall of the Taliban regime has been the regeneration of the city's schools, and in particular the provision of education for girls, who were denied it by the Taliban. A range of humanitarian agencies and charities have been involved in the various projects, and ISAF has worked with some 17 schools. An excellent example is Qasaba school, near Kabul airport; Royal Air Force and Royal Engineer personnel based at the airport adopted the school soon after their arrival, and have leant it much support, both moral and practical.

On Saturday 23 March 2002, Dr Hamid Karzai, the head of the Afghan Interim Authority, led celebrations at Amani High School to mark the excellent progress made in just a few weeks. He was joined by the UN's Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, Carol Bellamy of UNICEF, Major-General John McColl, and the US Ambassador. Afghan police in smart new uniforms provided security, assisted by ISAF troops, and the children turned out in colourful traditional dress. Dr Karzai was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and declared, "This is a happy, happy day. A very happy day!"

Another school much in need of assistance is Abd-U-Ali Mustaghni School. The British Embassy and 3 Close Support Regiment, serving with the British ISAF contingent, have organised the provision of new furniture. There is no doubt that much more needs to be done, the years of neglect having left the building in an appalling state of repair where no less than 3,500 pupils, male and female of all ages, are starting to receive once more a proper education.

A particularly special gift for Qasaba School arrived in early May - a consignment of books and pens donated by the pupils of Aberdare Town Church Primary School in Wales. The children organised a collection amongst themselves after receiving a letter from an RAF dental officer serving with ISAF. The gifts were very warmly received by the staff and children at Qasaba.

ISAF's Spanish contingent took on the task of renovating Ukheyl school in a village on the outskirts of Kabul. The area was once strongly pro-Taliban, but the work of ISAF and the Afghan Interim Authority has won over the community. NAAFI and 3663 Foodservice Ltd provided £2,500 and £500 sponsorship respectively for the school to finance new furnishings and books through the agency of Royal Logistic Corps personnel.

Qasaba school, in a delapidated state, has been adopted by RAF and RE personnel serving next door at Kabul Airport (High resolution version)	A young female teacher combines the freedom brought by the fall of the Taliban with respect for tradition, wearing a studded leather jacket beneath a burqa (High resolution version)	Group Captain Abbott, the RAF commander at Kabul airport, visits one of the classrooms at Qasaba (High resolution version)
One of the girls allowed to study once more following the fall of the Taliban (High resolution version)	A young boy demonstrates his maths skills at the blackboard (High resolution version)	Squadron Leader Dobson, RAF Regiment, with some of the children (High resolution version)
Squadron Leader Sanderson, a teacher before she joined the RAF, helps out with some of the pupils. Some of the female students are as old as 24, making up for the education denied them by the Taliban (High resolution version)	Lance Corporal Stacey, 9 Para Squadron Royal Engineers, painting a blackboard (High resolution version)	Lance Corporal Stacey and Lance Corporal Parkinson proudly show off their handiwork, having rebuilt the well in the school grounds (High resolution version)
A Royal Engineer truck delivers new furniture to Qasaba school (High resolution version)	There was no shortage of willing helpers to unload the lorry (High resolution version)	Captain Wharton, Royal Engineers, helps unpack a box of donated stationery (High resolution version)
Dr Hamid Karzai at the ceremony on 23 March to celebrate the regeneration of many Kabul schools (High resolution version)	Brigadier Tadier of ISAF visits the Abd-U-Ali Mustaghni school in Kabul, where efforts are made to provide education for some 3,500 pupils from six to eighteen years of age	New furniture sponsored by the British Embassy and ISAF is handed over in a small ceremony. Much work remains to be done at the school to renovate after years of neglect
An RAF officer delivers pens and stationery donated by children from Aberdare Town Church Primary School in her home town to Qasaba School (High resolution version)	Major General McColl exchanges greetings with the Afghan elders at Ukheyl. The area was a Taliban stronghold, but the work of the Afghan Interim Authority and ISAF has helped to win over their sympathies (High resolution version)	Captain Kerry Clarke, Royal Logistic Corps, photographs the Ukheyl school, refurbished by ISAF's Spanish contingent, and equipped with new books by NAAFI and 3663 Foodservice Ltd (High resolution version)

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