Photo By Sgt. Amie McMillan | Mr. Robert Kuntz, Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader for Baghdad, speaks to guests,...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD - During a ceremony at AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 23, representatives from the Provincial Reconstruction Teams, United States Forces – Iraq, and senior officials from the Government of Iraq gathered to celebrate the beginning of the Arabic Literacy Program.
The program, the first of its kind in Iraq, was created as an effort to tackle the major illiteracy problem in Baghdad and began as a Multi-National Forces-Iraq initiative followed up with PRT support. After months of planning, coordinating and training with Iraqi Non-Governmental Organizations, Government of Iraq officials, United States Forces-Iraq, and PRT representatives, more than 400 literacy centers will be opening their doors this month with the hope of reaching over 20,000 adults.
“We worked with our Iraqi partners to help them find Iraqi solutions to an Iraqi problem – illiteracy. For the cost of a small grant, we were able to give added momentum to an Iraqi-led project that will ultimately teach thousands of Iraqis basic literacy skills,” said Eric Turner, public diplomacy officer, Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team.
“This will improve participants’ quality of life, enhance their economic opportunities and contribute to stability in Baghdad,” he added.
“It took us a great effort to put the right foundation down for the entire project,” said Fatina Baban, Iraqi teacher, Committee for Women. “We would like to educate all the people in the capital and we’re going to start doing it in all the provinces over here.”
“You can teach people to read, no matter how young or old they are. It’s a tremendous gift and it’s something that will pay them back [personally] and pay back their society,” said Air Force Col. Greg Zehner, energy and services division chief, United States Forces – Iraq.
“The success and lessons learned from this literacy campaign, if it is as successful as we hope it will be, can be applied to provinces across the country,” said Turner.
“I would also like to show appreciation to the U.S. Embassy and the PRT for the support they provided to us in order for us to come up with the program. They put a big effort into the help of the training and teaching. Thank you so much,” said Fatina.
The Arabic Literacy Program proves that the effort to rebuild Iraq is in full motion as we embark together on Operation New Dawn with our Iraqi partners.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.25.2010 02:43 |
| Story ID: | 58715 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 15 |
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