Iraqi Government opens new school in Diwaniyah

Photo By Sgt. Brandon Le Flore | Students from the Al Fidah primary school in Diwaniyah line up to receive new backpacks from the school headmaster after the opening ceremony, April 11. The backpacks were filled with pens, pencils, notebooks and chalk and were provided to the headmaster by coalition forces.  

DIWANIYAH, IRAQ

04.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Brandon Le Flore 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP ECHO, Iraq — Students from the Al Fidah primary school showed up outside of normal school hours to witness the opening ceremony of the new school in Diwaniyah, April 11.

The primary school is one of 54 new schools constructed as part of Operation Lighthouse to replace deteriorated school houses.

"The old schools were built with mud and had been re-patched over and over," said Maj. Robert Thompson, commander, Company B, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The old school was built in the early 70's and was in very poor condition. The Iraqi department of education, in conjunction with the Iraq army and coalition forces, conceived a plan to replace the inadequate school houses throughout Diwaniyah and the Najaf province.

"We're giving them a school that will last much longer than their old one and will provide them with the ability to teach in a more proper setting," said Thompson.

Many of the IA soldiers involved in this operation are from this area and went to these schools.

There's an element of pride in seeing that their old schools are being improved, said Thompson.

After the opening ceremony, the school headmaster passed out backpacks provided by CF to the students attending the ceremony outside normal school hours.

Inside the backpacks the students found pens and paper, which are in short supply, along with notebooks and chalk, said Thompson.
Projects like this one show the more humanitarian side of CF and hopefully will improve the civil-military relationship between the local population and CF.

"It shows that we have a heart, we understand what they are going through and we're here to help," said Staff Sgt. Raymond Ramos, Hollister, Calif., native and civil affairs specialist with the 445th CA Bn.

This is the first of the 54 new schools in the area to open and there are about 20 more built and ready for use, said Ramos.

"The gift of learning is always a great gift," said Thompson.

• Date Taken: 04.11.2009
• Date Posted: 04.16.2009 10:14
• Story ID: 32458
• Location: DIWANIYAH, IQ