Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Kulp | Nioumamilima Primary School Headmistress Ahamada Fatoumia gives a speech during a...... read more read more
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NIOUMAMILIMA, Comoros — U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and representatives from the U.S. Embassy joined with the President of the Union of the Comoros and local leaders to dedicate the newly renovated Nioumamilima Primary School here Nov. 23.
The approximately $250,000 renovation project was financed by CJTF-HOA and was the result of an ongoing relationship with the Comoros Ministry of Education and the local government.
More than 1,000 people filled the school's courtyard to listen to speeches from U.S. and Comoros government officials.
In her speech, U.S. Navy Capt. Allyson Caddell, strategic communication director, CJTF-HOA, emphasized the importance local leaders place on education in Comoros.
"This school at Nioumamilima is an important symbol in many ways," said Caddell. "It is a symbol your leaders place on education and the belief that education is the key to the future. It was your leaders--your government--that enabled CJTF-Horn of Africa the opportunity to build and renovate this very fine school."
With the addition of four new classrooms, the renovation of three existing classrooms and new restroom facilities, the school will provide an improved learning environment for more than 400 students from the surrounding Nioumamilima, Grand Comore Village.
"The extra classrooms allow us to administer testing for the entire district," said Nioumamilima Headmistress Ahamada Fatoumia.
According to Fatoumia, the school was built more than half a century ago and prior to renovation was in poor condition.
"This is one of the nicest structures we have in all of Comoros," she said referring to the renovated school. "We want to assure you that we are going to take care of this building."
U.S. Ambassador to the Union of the Comoros Niels Marquardt addressed the audience emphasizing the important role that the U.S. military played in making the school renovation a success.
"I know that in Comoros you have the National Army of Development," said Marquardt. This shows you that the U.S. military also has an army of development."
In his speech he also mentioned that U.S. President Barack Obama "has considered it a priority to renew our engagement toward the Muslim world."
According to Caddell, the collaboration between CJTF-HOA and the government of Comoros on projects like the Nioumamilima Primary School will increase regional stability and help diminish the underlying conditions of poverty that violent extremists seek to exploit.
An island nation on the east coast of Africa, Comoros is located about 80 miles from where the Greek cargo ship, Delvina, was hijacked by Somali pirates earlier this month.
The closing speech was given by the President of the Union of the Comoros Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi.
Sambi said that he was pleased with the "active role that the U.S. administration is playing here."
This dedication strengthens our bilateral relationship and begins a very important partnership between our two governments, said Sambi. "In this magnificent village, long live the cooperation between the United States and Comoros."
| Date Taken: | 11.23.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2009 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 42077 |
| Location: | NIOUMAMILIMA, KM |
| Web Views: | 607 |
| Downloads: | 503 |
This work, US Military Bolsters Education—Dedicates School in Comoros, by CPO Jonathan Kulp, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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