School refurbishment strengthens community, MND-B Soldiers provide over watch

Photo By Sgt. David Hodge | Capt. Parsana Deoki, the commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, speaks with local leaders, July 31, after the reopening of the al-Harat Elementary School in the Jaza'ir community of southern Baghdad. Deoki, who hails from Jamaica, N.Y., and Soldiers from Co. C "Creek," provided oversight during the refurbishment efforts, which lasted approximately two months.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.31.2008

Story by Sgt. David Hodge 

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Sgt. David Hodge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – The al-Harat Elementary School in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad will open its new doors to more than 1,000 Iraqi boys and girls in September.

When the next school year resumes in the Jaza'ir community, Iraqi children, ages 7-12, will return to Harat to see the combined efforts of Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and local community leaders.

The improved environment will enable the children to concentrate better on their studies, said Abdul Karim Ali, the principal of Harat.

"The school looks very good; it is like a new house for the students," said Ali, who has served as the school principal for 25 years. "Now that we have a new-looking school, it will allow the students to work harder and better."

A new generator supplies electricity to the school and new air conditioners hang in the windows of the classrooms to provide cool air and light for the students and teachers, he said.

Among the other refurbishments are new doors, chalkboards and a freshly painted interior and exterior.

The funds for the project came from the Government of Iraq, said Lt. Col. Timothy Watson, the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Schools are a priority for funding from the GoI, added Watson, who hails from San Diego.

"This is one of the first schools to be refurbished in this area," Watson explained. "We hope to work our way through all the schools. We also realize a school can never be fixed once. It is used daily during the school year."

Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Bn. "Warriors," 4th Inf. Regt., patrol Jaza'ir daily and bring stability and security to the citizens, said Capt. Parsana Deoki, the commander of Co. C "Creek."

"This school refurbishment is a testament to the level of care for the neighborhood," Deoki stated. "My Soldiers have taken the time to ensure work is done correctly and according to the scheduled scope of work."

A neighborhood security watch program, the Sons of Iraq, man checkpoints throughout the area.

Capt. Yousif Ibrahim, the community Sons of Iraq leader and neighborhood councilman, provides security for the school and neighborhood, explained Deoki, a native of Jamaica, N.Y.

"With the help of both coalition forces and the district council, this place has become a school again," Ibrahim stated. "On behalf of our neighborhood, principal and teachers, we give a special thanks for giving us the security to make it happen."

Ibrahim said efforts to improve security in his neighborhood have had recent success, and he hopes that success will lead to further improvements in his area.

"We have to give more attention to essential services and take the weapons and fighting away from here," Ibrahim said.

With members of the neighborhood and district council and 60 teachers on his side, the school principal has plans to add five new classrooms with hope of giving the children the best opportunity to learn.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2008
• Date Posted: 08.02.2008 11:46
• Story ID: 22054
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ