March 10, 2008 —
Sgt. Abril’s widow visits children in one of the orphanage’s classrooms. The facility has a surface of 1,000 square metres, which includes a dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, sick bay, game room and classrooms. (ISAF photo)
KABUL, Afghanistan (March 10, 2008) — The Spanish-led Qala-e-Naw Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) opened a new orphanage in Qala-e-Naw March 3.
The orphanage was named Sergeant Juan Antonio Abril Sánchez, after a 16th Spanish Force soldier that died May 26, 2007, during duty.
The opening ceremony, presided by Col. Honorio Cantero López de Davalillo, PRT commander, was attended by Sgt. Sánchez’s widow, the Badghis deputy provincial governor, the Social Affairs line ministry deputy head, the orphanage’s head mistress and a large group of the orphans.
The Deputy Governor of Badghis thanked the PRT for this project and expressed his hope that Sgt. Abril’s life will be useful for the human and social development of the province and for the future of the children.
Sgt. Abril’s widow said her husband often spoke about Afghanistan’s children. She expressed her hope that when these children grow they will make their country a prosperous and peaceful place.
The new orphanage of Qala-e-Naw, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and a private Spanish company within the program for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, has a surface of 1,000 square metres, including a dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, sick bay, game room and classrooms.