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SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Soldiers from Area Support Team Balkans visited two renovated schools for a final inspection Sept. 9 –13 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
U.S. Army Maj. Marc Nguyen, a contracting officer with the Area Support Team Balkans and a native of Monterey, Calif., was involved with the renovations from beginning to end. Nguyen was responsible for talking to contractors, selecting the contractors and ensuring the work completed was in accordance with the contract.
Though Nguyen has worked on many projects before this one was especially rewarding to him.
“Humanitarian missions are accomplished with one’s heart and soul, but when given the opportunity to be involved with schools for children, it is even more rewarding,” said Nguyen. “It is all about the children, and having the privilege to contribute in some small way to their education and future. It’s very meaningful and touching for me.”
The schools are located in the cities of Sarajevo and Glamoc, both heavily destroyed during the years of war in Bosnia. The war as well as normal wear and tear on the buildings have decayed the surfaces and components of the schools.
The buildings’ roofs leaked, had faulty electrical systems, and were an unsafe environment for the children.
“The amount of damage to Fra Franjo Glavnic, the school located in Glamoc, was so extensive that everyday there was a risk of falling debris,” said Nguyen.
Mr. Mirsad Asimovic, the Mjedenica School Principal said “the school is a boarding facility designed for children with special needs.”
This project was especially important for the dormitories, where the children stay for the duration of the school year.
“These renovations help the kids in every possible sense,” Asimovic said. “I have been working at this school for 40 years and there has never been this extensive renovation since I have been here,”
Nguyen said the school projects received the Humanitarian Assistance project label in June as a stand alone project sponsored by U.S. European Command. The local government and municipality didn’t have the funds for such a large-scale renovation.
“We had a very tight schedule here,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Moritz, the National Guard Liaison to EUCOM Civil Engagement Branch and a native of Marino Valley, Calif. “Originally the contractor was supposed to be given 90 days, but instead only getting about 46 days to get all of this work done. So it’s a pretty amazing project and the schools and the kids are very happy.”
Moritz added that both projects finished ahead of schedule and well under budget and the quick turn around allowed the children the opportunity to safely return to school.
“I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity to participate in a humanitarian mission, and when I learned about the school projects in Bosnia, I was very excited,” said Nguyen “dealing with school children brings me back to my own experience as a child, being in a war torn country during the Vietnam era. I can relate to the children, yearning to have the opportunity for an education in a safe and welcoming environment to learn and thrive. I’m honored and privileged to be part of this project.”
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2013 03:01 |
| Story ID: | 114049 |
| Location: | SARAJEVO, BA |
| Hometown: | MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A time for rebuilding, by SGT Joshua Stoffregen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
