Soldiers from South Dakota, Suriname partner to renovate school

América del Sur/Surinam/02 de Septiembre de 2016/Fuente: Rapid City Journal

RESUMEN: Los soldados de Dakota del Sur y Surinam se unieron para ayudar a una escuela en un país de América del Sur noreste a principios de este mes. Los miembros de la Guardia Nacional de Dakota del Sur y de las Fuerzas Armadas de Surinam se asociaron para renovar la Escuela Dorp Santo en Wanica, Surinam, según un comunicado de la Guardia Nacional de Dakota del Sur. El proyecto de renovación fue parte del Surinam y Programa de Asociación Estatal de Dakota del Sur. El Teniente Coronel Johnny Antonio, Ministerio de Defensa de Surinam  a la cabeza de la planificación estratégica y la educación, dijo que las fuerzas armadas de Surinam se involucran en proyectos humanitarios, y están empezando a asumir más responsabilidad sobre el desarrollo nacional del país. «En este sentido, la colaboración con la Guardia Nacional de Dakota del Sur en este proyecto en particular es de suma importancia. Esta forma de colaboración es una situación de ganar-ganar en muchos niveles», dijo Antonio en el comunicado. Según la Guardia, el proyecto comenzó en marzo, cuando los soldados de la Guardia Nacional de Dakota del Sur y Surinam se especializan en la construcción, visitaron 14 escuelas públicas. Fueron acompañados por representantes del Ministerio de Defensa y el Ministerio de Educación de Surinam; el Ministerio de Educación eligió la Escuela Dorp Santo, que sirve a aproximadamente 850 estudiantes del área local. Los fondos para el proyecto fue proporcionado por el Comando Sur de EE.UU. y todos los materiales y suministros se adquirieron en Surinam. Ocho soldados de la empresa Ingeniero 155 de la Guardia Nacional y la Compañía de Ingenieros 211 trabajaron con alrededor de una docena de ingenieros de la Fuerza de Defensa de Surinam sobre la renovación. El trabajo consistió en suelo de baldosas, puerta de la construcción e instalación, pintura, instalación eléctrica e iluminación, lavabo e inodoro instalación de fontanería línea de flotación, respiración de los tanques sépticos, instalación de drenaje y la instalación de una valla de límites. Según la Guardia, las renovaciones de la escuela va a crear un mejor ambiente de aprendizaje y enseñanza. El director de Santo Dorp, Sharmila Darsan, dijo que la escuela es como un nuevo entorno, y ella agradece a todos los que trabajaron en el proyecto. «Un ambiente de aprendizaje agradable siempre es bueno para los niños», dijo Darsan en el comunicado. «Esto ayuda con mejores actitudes, los grados más altos y motiva.»

Soldiers from South Dakota and Suriname joined forces to help a school in a northeastern South American country earlier this month.

Members of the South Dakota National Guard and of Suriname’s Armed Forces partnered Aug. 8-16 to renovate the O.S. 1 Santo Dorp School in Wanica, Suriname, according to a release from the South Dakota National Guard.

The renovation project was part of the Suriname and South Dakota State Partnership Program. Lt. Col. Johnny Antonius, Suriname Ministry of Defense head of strategic planning and education, said Suriname’s armed forces engage in humanitarian projects, and are starting to take on more responsibility about the country’s national development.

«In this respect, collaboration with the South Dakota National Guard on this particular project is of utmost importance. This form of collaboration is a win-win situation on many levels,» Antonius said in the release.

According to the Guard, the project began in March when South Dakota National Guard and Suriname soldiers specializing in construction visited 14 public schools. They were accompanied by representatives from the Suriname Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Education chose the Santo Dorp School, which serves approximately 850 students from the local area.

Funding for the project was provided by U.S. Southern Command and all materials and supplies were purchased in Suriname.

Eight soldiers from the Guard’s 155th Engineer Company and 211th Engineer Company worked with about a dozen Suriname Defense Force engineers on the renovation. The work consisted of tiling, door construction and installation, painting, electrical and lighting installation, sink and toilet installation, waterline plumbing, septic tank venting, drainage installation and installing a boundary fence, according to the release.

Warrant Officer Brandon Voss, who was the project officer in charge of the Guard team, said the work provided «a ton» of training for all the soldiers in a variety of ways.

«We not only had to deal with language barriers, we had to overcome different building techniques and building material,» Voss said in the release. «Working with the SDF helped us practice communication and compromising skills. It was a great opportunity in planning, organizing and working with the SDF and the Suriname people.»

Antonius echoed those statements, calling the partnership a perfect example of «team work.»

According to the Guard, the school renovations will create a better learning and teaching environment. Santo Dorp’s principal, Sharmila Darsan, said the school is like a new environment, and she is grateful to all who worked on the project.

«A pleasant learning environment is always good for the children,» Darsan said in the release. «It helps with better attitudes, higher grades and it motivates.»

Darsan said the fence and gates also makes the children feel safe and will keep strangers from wandering into the school yard.

Since 2006, soldiers from South Dakota and Suriname have conducted more than 100 subject matter exchanges through the program.

Suriname and the South Dakota National Guard conduct about 10 subject matter expert exchanges a year. The topics include military-related subjects like field leadership and NCO development, logistics operations, military police procedures, medical and communications training and women serving in the military.

The renovation project at Santo Dorp is just one of several construction projects that the partner nations have completed at schools and clinics throughout Suriname in the past 10 years. Leaders in the program say the partnership has flourished during the past decade, becoming a model for mutual security cooperation.

«The partnership between the Republic of Suriname and South Dakota has proven to be an example for all State Partnership Programs that the United States conducts with countries around the world,» Antonius said. «I am convinced that both Suriname and South Dakota will do their utmost to maintain this kind of partnership and bring it to an even higher level.»

Fuente: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/soldiers-from-south-dakota-suriname-partner-to-renovate-school/article_43ef0b8f-1847-5736-8438-e7eec13b2862.html