Canadian Governor General connects with Sayad Students

The head of the Canadian government is the Governor General. Recently, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, visited Sayad Pascha School.

Just like home, the first week of the school year here in Kandahar is an exciting time. The children go to school six days a week, usually from midmorning to mid afternoon. When we visited Sayad Pacha on Sunday, 6 September 2009, it was a beehive of activity. The children were becoming familiarized with new classes and teachers, making new friends and practicing their English while we practiced our Dari and Pashtu. They came out the winners on the language practice.

The principal greeted us warmly and explained that the organized chaos was first day excitement. We were caught up in the moment as well but still managed to talk about plans for Sayad Pacha and the community. I mentioned we would visit again later in the week when things had settled down. I did not mention that we would have a special guest.

On the day of Her Excellency the Governor General’s visit, we went to Sayad Pacha early as an advance party. It was then that we sprang the news that we would have a special guest in a couple of hours. Much to our pleasant surprise the Principal took all things in stride and was his usual accommodating self. Some of the students put the finishing touches on tidying up the front steps and courtyard in anticipation of the arrival while others practiced greeting HEGG with “Welcome Michelle.”

From the moment HEGG arrived, until her departure, the visit was a fantastic whirlwind of emotions. She was open and engaging, asked intuitive questions and filled everyone with her presence.

Our small party greeted her, the Canadian Ambassador, and the Chief of Defence Staff on the front steps and made introductions. HEGG instantly dispelled any jitters we may have had with her warm smile. The principal was pleased as punch to have such an esteemed guest and was more than eager to share his experiences with her.

We started the tour with a classroom for girls in grade 10 and then moved on to a class for girls in grade 8. HEGG had the opportunity to talk to the students who, although shy at first, quickly warmed up and put their strong English skills to good use. The message they passed to HEGG was one of appreciation and gratitude for the Canadian people who have assisted them. The students and teachers told us that the gift of security was the one that they held most dear, followed by the opportunity to go to school and feel safe doing so. The hopes and aspirations of the students to become teachers, engineers and doctors contained the sentiment of a strong desire to rebuild their Afghanistan. The fact that these were young girls and women who were talking was not lost on HEGG who remarked on their courage and provided ample encouragement to pursue their dreams.

Throughout the tour we had the opportunity to discuss the projects that Skills Generation and our committee had been involved in. We talked about the de-mining and grading of the school yard, the donation of the playground equipment and fence as well as the installation of a fresh water well and power for the plumbing system.
The common theme throughout the visit was how a grass-roots, volunteer organization could spread across Canada and reach southern Afghanistan. Our stories about all the different groups and individuals, across Canada and in Kandahar, who had contributed to the efforts, resonated with HEGG. One particular story struck home. When we talked about the sewing programme Lucie Desjardins started, HEGG reached out and took my hands and said “that is my story!” Lucie’s foresight to start a programme to help the women of the community could have been taken from the life story of HEGG as her grandmother raised the children using her sewing machine to provide for them.

It was a remarkable visit that provided those of us who were there with an invaluable lift in spirit. Volunteer work is its own reward; however, we all gained something special from the enthusiasm of Her Excellency the Governor General.

Major Tim Hogan is currently deployed in Kandahar with the Canadian Forces.