Central Baghdad school opens after two months of renovations

Photo By Sgt. Robert Yde | Kindi Neighborhood Advisory Council member, Hassan Mahdi Khal'ssan, performs the ribbon cutting at the grand opening of the Andalas School in central Baghdad, Aug. 26.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.28.2007

Story by Sgt. Robert Yde 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

by Sgt. Robert Yde
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – For the second time in a little more than a month, the partnership between the Kindi Neighborhood Advisory Council and the Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment's Company E, has led to another school being opened in the area.

After opening the Waoud Kindergarten in July, the Andalas School, which will serve as a middle and secondary school, was opened Aug. 26.

The project, which took nearly two months to complete, was one of the first that Co. E, which is attached to the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, took on after taking over operations in Kindi in June.

"The project was already started when we got here," said Co. E commander, Capt. Greg Turner. "The scope of work and the project were already approved, so we just came here four or five times, checked on the work and made sure everything was happening."

Turner, who is originally from Butler, Pa., said that although the money for the project was provided by 4-9 Cav., it was the efforts of the Kindi NAC members that led to its fruition.

"We provide the funds, but the Iraqi guy that we hired did the design for the school and Iraqi contractors did the work," he explained. "So besides being the middle man, we're not responsible for this school. The Iraqis are responsible for what you see here today."

According to the contractor, Mahir Sa'adoun Lafta, the project was a big undertaking. Not only was the school repainted and newly refurnished, but computers were added, a cafeteria was built, lights and air conditioning powered via a generator were added, and a second floor, which houses additional classrooms, was added to one of the buildings. He said he was extremely happy when he was awarded the contract because it gave him a chance to be part of something positive for this community.

"I wanted to be a part of this project, not just as a contractor but as a person who cares about the community," he said. "We did this job not only because of the money, but because we want to help rebuild the country."

The additional classrooms will allow the school to offer all six grades that comprise Iraqi students' middle and secondary education, instead of only the first four, which was the case in previous years. This is important, said Hassan Mahdi Khal'ssan, a member of the Kindi NAC, because it means that these students will be able to receive their entire education in Kindi.

"This school, before, it accepted the students from the first year of middle school to the fourth year," he said "After that they had to go out of this neighborhood. Our students will not have to go outside this neighborhood to complete their education."

He said that he expects the school to have approximately 500 students when they return for classes Oct. 1, and that the school will accept not only Kindi residents but some students from other neighborhoods in Baghdad as well.

"We have many students who migrate from the hot spots because our neighborhood is peaceful and very calm," he said.

Turner said that his company and the local council members have several other projects in the works and that with each project the NAC is taking on more and more of the responsibility, which is beneficial to the community.

"I think the best part of this is actually the support we do for the local government. By putting them forward, we're empowering them and making the community work through them, so they don't rely on American forces to do this kind of stuff," he said. "What it does the most for them is put the ball in their court and really lets the NAC take the lead on it."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2007
• Date Posted: 08.28.2007 15:19
• Story ID: 12041
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ