Photo By Chief Petty Officer Mary Popejoy | Petty Officer 3rd Class Karl Rabbass, a builder with Naval Mobile Construction...... read more read more
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By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CHARICHCHO, Ethiopia — During the eight-hour car ride from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Charichcho, mud huts with grass roofs, unimproved roads and livestock are the main attractions for miles until you arrive at Forward Operating Location Charichcho where Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-40 Detachment Horn of Africa are building an eight-stall latrine and the fourth school building for Charichcho Primary School.
The one story school building is 1,624 Sq. ft. and contains three classrooms, which will accommodate a student body of 349 children.
To check on the status of the project and the health and welfare of the Seabees, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Command Master Chief Roy Maddocks visited the Seabees Oct. 6.
"This is an opportunity to see the great work the Seabees are doing out here far away from civilization and to let them know that just because they are out of sight doesn't mean they are out of mind," said Maddocks.
A project of this nature is a little different than what the Seabees are used to because they usually build structures to improve a base, but in this instance they also find themselves making a difference in the community.
"The three-room school building will help with the overpopulation of the other two school buildings and allow more students to receive an education," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Verneris, project supervisor. "In the states, a classroom would have about 30 students, but here its 80 students per room, so, this will definitely help them out in the long run."
Beyene Bale, a third grade teacher at Charichcho Primary School, is grateful to the Seabees for being able to do this project for the community.
"We're happy about this project and our government is happy because we'll be able to teach more kids and expand our educational opportunities," said Bale. "We enjoy this partnership because it helps us communicate better with each other and it strengthens our relationship with the U.S. military."
As the project continues to come together, the Seabees, who work 12-hour days, six days per week, are reminded daily how appreciative the kids are to be receiving a new school building.
"Seeing the kids go to school in the morning with their smiles, thumbs up and peace signs sets the tone for the mission," said Verneris.
And it's the motivation of his team that makes him proud to be a part of such a worthwhile mission.
"They're putting out 110 percent and I couldn't ask for a better crew or better output," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Johnson, crew leader.
According to Maddocks, the Seabees can take great pride in the work they are doing for the children because they are giving them a valuable tool for life.
"These young children will have a brighter future because the Seabees have created an environment that is much more conducive to learning," said Maddocks.
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2007 08:29 |
| Story ID: | 13026 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 138 |
This work, Seabees build school, strengthen relations with partner nation, by CPO Mary Popejoy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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