The Reconstruction Task Force’s civil-military assistance is aimed at building indigenous physical and social infrastructure. The RTF’s aid projects include:

• construction and development of the Trade Training School (TTS), Tarin Kowt
• training of Afghan National Army (ANA) engineers.
• redevelopment of the Tarin Kowt Provincial Hospital
• renovation of the Tarin Kowt High School
• construction of a large causeway over the Garmab Mandah
• renovation of the Yaklengah Health Centre
• village-based reconstruction tasks in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt

A difference made, Media Release, Department of Defence, 12 March 2010

An Australian-run Trade Training School (TTS), soon set to expand, is teaching young Afghan men valuable carpentry skills in Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan. Since 2006 the TTS has graduated around 200 young men. One of those graduates, who has been with the TTS since its inception, now holds carpentry qualifications similar to that of a 4th year apprentice in Australia and trainer qualifications in plumbing, and is currently teaching other young Afghans.

Army: Diggers and Afghans battle cold and insurgents together, Captain Al Green, Defence Magazine, Issue 5, 2007/2008.

ISAF completes major health facilities in Tarin Kowt, Media Release, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), 17 September 2007.

“The Australian Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), part of the Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Regional Command South, has completed two of its major construction projects this week. The redevelopment of the Tarin Kowt Hospital and construction of the Yaklengah Comprehensive Health Clinic are landmark projects in the international community’s quest to deliver improved health care for the people of southern Afghanistan. The US$700,000 Tarin Kowt Hospital project began in late 2006 and was completed on schedule this week by the RTF and local contractors.”

Project coordinator: Richard Tanter
Additional research: Arabella Imhoff
Ronald Li
15 March 2010