ECHOS Home ‘The Windmill’

In the wake of the formation of ISAF (International Stabilisation Force for Afghanistan) the rural province of Uruzgan was    assigned its own Taskforce Uruzgan (TFU). It was tasked to maintain law and order, as well as re-introduce and strengthen   local government, and rehabilitate the most important public institutions, like medical care and education.

As the responsibility and command of Task Force Uruzgan was assigned to The Netherlands, our first ECHOS Home in Afghanistan was opened at Kamp Holland, near Tarin Kowt, in February 2007. Since then there has been a coming and          going of allied soldiers from various countries, like Australia, France, Slovakia, Singapore, England, USA, and of course the Netherlands. All these nationalities are presented in ‘the Windmill’, which makes it a cosy international hotspot, especially    during karaoke- and bingo evenings.

Soldiers pop in for a cup of coffee, to play a game, use the internet, and generally to relax or offload the stress of war. In front        of the home there is a possibility to set up a BBQ or play table-tennis, on a table donated by our sister organisation Pro Rege Biking events.

The ECHOS Home is totally armoured, but the inside walls are decorated with a fiction window portraying different l          landscapes from the Netherlands and Australia. It creates an atmosphere of ‘home’ for the visiting soldiers.

Everybody is welcome; come and enjoy the socialising, and have a relaxing time!