The private sector’s charity campaign Iran-e Man (My Iran) has unveiled four new elementary schools in western Iran that had been ravaged by deadly floods.
The four elementary schools were opened in four villages in Kermanshah Province, the scene of deadly earthquakes and floods that wreaked havoc in the area over the past two years.
The campaign, founded by Pedram Soltani, entrepreneur and former vice president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), has teamed up with various Iranian private sector businesses and Mehrgiti Charity to either rebuild or construct 100 elementary schools in underprivileged areas in the country.
All schools are named Iran-e Man and numbered from 1 to 100.
“All schools that are built by economic operators and entrepreneurs, are called Iran-e Man (My Iran) in a bid to strengthen an interest for Iran in next generations,” according to Soltani.
“Our common background is our nationality. We believe that these lively kids will build Iran’s future. Love for Iran should grow in heart of these children who need to learn love, patriotism, cooperation and construction,” he added.
Behphar, a pharmaceutical group, helped fund a two-class school in Balavan village, called Iran-e Man 96.
Iran-e Man 96 elementary school in Balavan village. IRAN-E MAN Campaign
Iran-Switzerland Joint Chamber of Commerce took part in the construction of a Iran-e Man 97 3-class elementary school in Bibian village.
Iran-e Man 97 elementary school in Bibian village. IRAN-E MAN Campaign
Another elementary school, Iran-e Man 98 with two classes in Rizehvand Ali Akbar village has been funded by Shipping Association of Iran.
The last school, a 2-class educational facility, named Iran-e Man 99, in the affected area was built by small donations from the locals in Zavoleh Olya village in Gahvareh District of Dalahu County in Kermanshah Province, that is home to 10 of such privately-funded education spaces.
Children stand in front of Iran-e Man 99 school in Zavoleh Olya village in Gahvareh District of Dalahu County in Kermanshah Province. IRAN-E MAN campaign
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated Iran-Iraq border areas, heavily destroying infrastructures in Kermanshah Province, especially Sarpol Zahab County in 2017.
The area was later flooded in 2019 following heavy downpours that took place in March and April.
So far, 82 schools have been built over the past five years all around the country, according to Pedram Soltani, founder of Iran-e Man campaign.
He added that the remaining 18 schools will be built by the end of the current Persian Year (20 March, 2020).
“Lack of skills that has negatively affected today’s businesses has deep roots in the defected cycle of illiteracy in the country,” said Pedram Soltani while inaugurating the schools.
“Although the Iranian economy needs higher educational contribution, the country still lacks 40 million square metres of standard educational space, that is, a third of the country’s schools are not standard,” he added, mentioning that Iran needs to get back to the basics to lay strong foundation for its development.