Photo By Spc. Raymond Quintanilla | Staff Sgt. Francisco Estrada, with the 350th Civil Affairs Command, attached to the...... read more read more
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BASRAH, Iraq – Approximately 300 airport employees at the Basrah International Airport will have the opportunity to get in line with modern technology.
The U.S. Division-South and 36th Infantry Division’s Emergency Response Program recently donated 20 brand new laptops, desks, chairs and variety of office supplies to the Basrah International Airport. Valued at $30,000, the new equipment is part of a computer lab project initiated a year ago by Farida Samano, the USD-S Women’s initiative adviser.
“It’s very exciting for them,” said Samano, from Phoenix. “This computer lab is a wonderful opportunity for so many employees, especially for those who have no computer skills and those with no access to computers.”
“Overall, it’s to encourage them to use computer technology which will be beneficial for their business by expediting their [airport] work process,” said Samano.
Samano, who has been providing career enhancement training to the women employees at the airport and other venues in Basrah, saw the need for the computer lab to meet today’s demand for computer skills, but had encountered certain obstacles.
“At the time, it took too long to approve it because of other important projects,” Samano said. “Then when the 36th ID took command and saw my projects, and pushed them right away.”
The good deed extends to providing computer and software training for airport employees according to Staff Sgt. Francisco Estrada, with the 350th Civil Affairs Command from Pensacola, Fla., attached to the 36th Inf. Div.
“This falls into the training portion of our objective for Operation New Dawn,” said Estrada. “Currently the Basrah International Airport is behind in international standards as far as the way they do things… because of lack of equipment.”
“I’m glad to be here and have a positive impact on the Iraqi people,” he said. “Hopefully we could continue our relationships, both professionally and amicably in the future.”
Estrada said although the drawdown of American troops may affect larger projects, smaller civic action projects for the Iraqi people could be expected to continue.
A ribbon cutting event is scheduled for a later date once the lab is fully operational according to Samano.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2011 03:28 |
| Story ID: | 70441 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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