Engineers bring shoes, toys, smiles to school

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers of 926th Engineer Brigade, along with Iraqi security forces, pose with the students of Al Magreib al Araby school in Abu Ghraib after handing out shoes and stuffed animals to the children on Jan. 15. This humanitarian mission was led by Lt. Col. Carlton Fisher, chaplain, 926th Eng. Bde., Multi-National Division – Baghdad.  

ABU GHRAIB, IRAQ

01.15.2009

Story by Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Keefer 

926th Engineer Brigade

By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jennifer Keefer
926th Engineer Brigade

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq – Lt. Col. Carlton Fisher, chaplain, 926th Engineer Brigade, led a team of Soldiers with a truckload full of shoes, clothes and stuffed animals for 150 Iraqi boys and girls at Al Magreib al Araby school in Abu Ghraib, Jan. 15.

What makes this mission a little different than the usual humanitarian mission is the fact this U-shaped facility was on a list of projects set forth by Task Force Iron Gimlet, a select team of engineers from 926th Eng. Bde., Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

TF Iron Gimlet has been working throughout the western region of Baghdad with local government and contractors to improve key infrastructure and essential services. Since Dec. 1, the Al Magreib al Araby school has been one of these projects led by Capt. Matthew Slyder of 926th Eng. Bde.

"In this case, we dealt with the landowner, headmaster, school district, contractor engineer and the ministry of education," said the Greenville, S.C. native. "After scoping the needs of the school, the contractor then hired local workers to complete the projects, which consisted of repairing the toilets, windows, doors and roof, painting the walls, cementing the courtyard and even providing a filtered water fountain system."

"This [renovation] makes the students, who range from ages 6 to 12, feel more attached with pride for their school and good that somebody cares enough to do such an important thing for education," said Abudula Khailf Suad, the school's principal.

Rashid Nassir Abas, the landowner who has two children attending the school feels these projects tighten relations between all groups. He was also happy and pleased of the goods that were brought for the children.

The idea for the humanitarian mission began around the same time as the coordination for the school in early Dec. After completing the humanitarian mission in Rusafa in November 2008, Chaplain Fisher and his volunteers had extra donated supplies and a desire to provide for the needy at least one more time.

"The items that were donated included mainly shoes, clothes and stuffed toys provided by the Family Readiness Group, 926th Eng. Bde. Soldiers and their contacts back home to include churches, businesses, relatives and friends," said Fisher who civilian works also as a Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.

Husband and wife team, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Lehman of Massena, N.Y. and Sgt. Amy Lehman of Albany, N.Y., have provided much of the groundwork for both humanitarian missions. Sgt. 1st Class Lehman, non commissioned officer in charge of the 926th intelligence section, felt very "fortunate" to get to accomplish something outside of their usual mission. "Even with the communication gap, this mission was able to connect both nationalities," said Lehman.

Sgt. Lehman felt she could do this (humanitarian work) everyday and was very thankful for all of the volunteers, who were involved in the process.

The national police were also actively involved in the passing out of shoes and toys to the children. Hassan Ali, a national policeman who was providing security for the school, felt very good about helping the children.

The humanitarian event was set up in several stations, one for measuring the children's feet for shoes, one for the shoes, one for clothes, stuffed toys, soccer balls and candy.

Upon the completion of the event, Fisher thanked the school for their hospitality.

"It was a joy to work with you [school staff] the last few months," said Fisher. "The gifts we gave came from American churches, organizations and individuals back home that believe in you."

• Date Taken: 01.15.2009
• Date Posted: 01.23.2009 07:55
• Story ID: 29174
• Location: ABU GHRAIB, IQ