School cleanup, reconstruction finished

Photo By Sgt. Philip Klein | Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers with Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, currently attached to the 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division, enter the newly renovated al Faw Intermediate School to get a look at the work completed by Iraqi contractors Aug. 14, 2008. Task Force 1-6 is based out of Baumholder, Germany.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.16.2008

Story by Sgt. Philip Klein 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Philip Klein
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers, Iraqi security forces members and Sadr City government officials are continuously working to improve the lives of residents of the Thawra 1 and 2 neighborhoods.

The groups came together Aug. 14, 2008, to celebrate the completion of renovations at the al Faw Intermediate School in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

The MND-B effort was led by Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, who with their Iraqi partners have renovated most of the schools in the Jamilla area including Thawra 1 and 2.

"Nearly every school will be ready to open when school starts at the end of August," said Lt. Col. Brian Eifler, commander of Task Force 1st Bn., 6th Inf. Regt., which is based out of Baumholder, Germany, and currently attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The school renovations are part of the larger reconstruction operations by the Iraqi army and MND-B Soldiers designed to improve the living conditions of residents of these Sadr City neighborhoods.

Eifler, a native of Farmington Hills, Mich., gives much of the credit to the IA and the District Advisory Council which is made up of the elected representatives of Sadr City.

"This renovation effort would not have been possible without the Iraqi army and the DAC coming together to get the job done for the children of Sadr City," said Eifler.

Ali Sewadi, a leading member of the Sadr City DAC, said the school renovations are just a small part of the work being done for the people of Sadr City.

"We are also working on improving our hospitals, infrastructure and basic services. These are all priorities for our district," said Sewadi.

"The area south of the wall is improving every day, but it is important that we begin work north of the wall to the neighborhoods that have not benefitted from the good works we are conducting because of the threats from special group criminals, who care nothing for the people of Sadr City," he continued.

The DAC was a defunct organization until the Iraqi army established a presence in Sadr City, and even after a deadly bombing there the local leaders are determined to make a difference for their community with the opportunity of renewed security.

The renovations at the al Faw Intermediate School are proof of the hard work the elected representatives of Sadr City have put into their community.

"The work we have done for our neighborhoods on this school is an important step to normalizing the lives of the people we represent, who want security and the chance to improve their conditions for themselves and for their children," concluded Sewadi.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2008
• Date Posted: 08.16.2008 03:31
• Story ID: 22550
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ