Laura Bush awarded for improving children education

Washington, Mar 10: The Kuwait-America Foundation has awarded US first lady Laura Bush for her dedication towards ''improving the living conditions and education of children around the world''.

The Foundation also honoured US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice along with Mrs Bush at a gala benefit dinner hosted by Kuwaiti Ambassador Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah at their Washington residence on Wednesday.

The annual benefit attracted high-ranking US Cabinet officials.

In 2006, proceeds will go to help UNICEF's work in Afghanistan.

Noting the importance of education for girls, the first lady cited the partnership between the government of Afghanistan and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in establishing the Women's Teacher Training Institute in Kabul, which aims to train some 6,000 teachers.

Mrs Bush said ''Women teachers are especially important as many (Afghan) families still want their girls to be educated by women and not in either a co-ed situation or in a situation with men teachers.'' Afghan women teachers, also are being trained at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in their native languages. They live with American families during their stay.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited the University of Nebraska programme last year.

The United States is a steadfast partner in the development of Afghanistan, she said.

UNI