KIRKUK, Iraq -- In the village of Amal Shabi, near Kirkuk, Iraq; the growing population has caused the schools to overflow, sewage in the village to is now out of control and the villagers need more water, according to the leadership and principals in Amal Shabi.
To begin making plans for improving the quality of life for the people here, the Kirkuk Combined Security Force; made up of Task Force Marne Soldiers, Pesh Murga, Iraqi army and Iraqi police, met with the leadership, March 18.
During the meeting 1st Lt. Doug Wolfe, a platoon leader with Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and Lt. Hashem, a CSF platoon leader, met with the leadership of the area to talk about their concerns.
The main issues that were addressed during the meeting were the conditions of the schools, lack of clean water and the overflow of sewage.
One of the projects the CSF is lining up is the renovation of the schools in the area.
"We want to help you provide a good quality education to the children because they are the future," said Wolfe.
The CSF and the leadership agreed the best way to do this is to combine the schools then work to rebuild and expand them.
"Our main goal is to rebuild the schools," said Wolfe. "But first we need to get these children into a better working environment to enhance their education."
Another concern that has recently become an issue because of the rapidly growing population of the area, over 1,000 families, is the water tower that is not big enough to support the village, according to the village Mukhtar.
The main concern voiced by the citizens was the overflow of sewage and trash in the area.
"My children and I are sick all the time because of this problem and I know we are not the only family like this," said one of the principals, who live right next to the overflowing sewage.
To help fix this issue the Task Force Marne Soldiers and CSF plan to first get the area cleaned, then assist the town in establishing a Department of Public Works.
These projects will help bridge the gap between what the village now has and what they need to become safe and prosperous in the future, said to Wolfe.