Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Children at the Sanadid school in Shakeriyah go through gift bags handed out by the...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – The 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division handed out gift bags to students from the Sanadid school in Shakeriyah and the al Fatoh elementary school in Al Fatoh, Oct. 19, 2008.
"It is always a good thing when the children receive gifts, they enjoy seeing the Iraqi army soldiers come through the school," said Soad Ahmed Jasaim, Sanadid school assistant headmaster. "The IA has done a lot for us recently, especially in giving this school back, when two months ago it was [used] by American Soldiers."
For two years, the Sanadid school was used by coalition forces as Patrol Base Lion's Den until Sept. 6, 2008, when it was transitioned back to IA control. The IA reopened the school upon taking over the base.
Classes took place in tents during that two-year period. Educating upwards of 800 students, the IA knew converting the building back to a school was the top priority.
"Today we are showing that we care and that we will give back to the people in need," said Col. Alcram Sadam Mathuaf, 23/17th IA commander. "We are giving the children school supplies and items they both need and want."
Giving the area back was only the beginning, as there is still work to be done in the school.
"The students are like my children, I will ensure that I help them the best way I possibly can," Mathuaf said. "Starting next week we are going to start painting the school and doing small things that we can accomplish at our level."
The plan is to ensure the school is supplied with electricity through a generator run by 2nd Battalion, 23/17th IA and clean bottled water.
"We are doing what we can in order to support these schools and make sure they are getting what they need," said Lt. Col. Fatatl Rasheid Hamid, 2/23/17th IA commander.
The IA Soldiers who handed out the gift bags were as cheerful as the children who received them.
Hamid said that his Soldiers were proud to give back and he plans to continue providing for the schools in the future.
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2008 09:09 |
| Story ID: | 25377 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 375 |
| Downloads: | 368 |
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