DUSHANBE, October 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday October 15, the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ken Gross, and Panj Hukumat Chairman, Mirzodavlat Saburov, officially opened the Panj Kindergarten, renovated by a United States Army Civil Affairs team, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.

The U.S. Department of Defense provided $30,000 in funding and sent a Civil Affairs team to Tajikistan to oversee the project, which started in April.

The MPMK Construction Company, a local contracting firm, completed construction at the site.  Together, the MPMK Construction Company and the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team installed a new roof, replastered the exterior, painted the interior and exterior, repaired and repainted the floor, replaced portions of the dropped ceiling and replaced broken doors and windows.  The renovation provides a safer, more comfortable setting in which the children can start their education.

The Panj Kindergarten renovation is one of numerous projects carried out by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs team since the program launched in Dushanbe in May 2008.  The most recent project was the renovation of the Qumsangir Central Hospital in May 2009.  The Civil Affairs team has also been involved in the renovation of School #10 and Hospital #1, both in Farkhor district.  These are only a few of the projects on which the United States Department of Defense has spent over $350,000 during the past year.

Continued advancement in education and public health care is a priority to the United States mission in Tajikistan.