[StBernard] Kazakhstan aids Louisiana schools

[Westley Annis]

Kazakhstan aids Louisiana schools
NEW ORLEANS, April 28 (UPI) -- Kazakhstan is giving aid to Louisiana schools
damaged last year by Hurricane Katrina. 

The Kazakhstan News Bulletin on April 27 reported that Kazakh Ambassador
Kanat Saudabayev, visiting southern Louisiana at the invitation of U.S.
House of Representatives member Charlie Melancon, presented $50,000 in
donations to the St. Bernard Unified School and the Ursuline Academy of New
Orleans. 

Saudabayev said, "The Kazakhs have a saying, 'there is no such thing as
somebody else's disaster,' and what happened to Louisianans had a painful
echo in the hearts of the people of Kazakhstan." 

"Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, President Nursultan Nazarbayev sent a
large donation on behalf of the Kazakh people to the Bush-Clinton Katrina
Fund. Today, again with instructions from our head of state, I present
checks to two educational institutions in Louisiana, the Ursuline Academy of
New Orleans and the St. Bernard Unified School. These institutions were
chosen because by providing financial assistance to children in tough times
we want to strengthen their young hearts' belief in charity and compassion."


Melancon said, "This gesture on the part of Kazakhstan and President
Nazarbayev is an important one to a parish that has often been overlooked
when it comes to getting helped. Kazakhstan is quickly becoming one of
Louisiana's great international friends and this support for the children of
St. Bernard only strengthens that relationship."



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