Seabees Renovate School in Djibouti

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Robert Gallagher | Members of the panel applaud as U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, James C. Swan, speaks in the library at Ali Sabieh Ecole 2 during the school dedication ceremony, Dec. 19. Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 from Port Hueneme, Calif. and currently assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa started working on the school in April, renovating the school's roof, sidewalk, bathrooms, paintwork, and installing new doors, windows and a perimeter chain-link fence.  

12.22.2009

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Wilson 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

More than 700 students who attend the Ecole Ali Sabieh School Djibouti, will now benefit from multiple renovations provided by U.S. Navy Seabees at Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa after a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dec. 19.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif. renovated the school by providing an all new ventilation system, drop ceiling, doors, latrine facility, sidewalk and roofs for four buildings.

At the ceremony, Djiboutian Minister of Education Abdi Ibrahim Absieh, and American Djiboutian Ambassador James Swan both recognized the Seabees for the job they had done.

"I just want to take a moment to thank the Seabees," said Swan. "You are the ones who did the actual work on the project and we are very appreciative. Thank you for everything."

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students and teachers also thanked the Seabees for their contributions to the school.

"The changes to the school are very beautiful," said Mohammed Farah Iltireh, a teacher at the Ecole Ali Sabieh School. "All the teachers think it is very nice and, thank the Americans and the Navy."

Constructionman Amado Lazaroguzman was proud to see what the school's transformation after 9-months of renovating.

"When we first started this project the whole area was depressing," Lazaroguzman said. "A lot of the school was damaged, the fence was falling down, and most of the rooms didn't have doors. But now when you look around you have to feel good. This is a school they'll be able to go to for years and be comfortable and safe from most of the elements."

NMCB-3 is currently renovating a Elementary school in Comoros, constructing a bridge in Uganda and expanding a perimeter fence in Kenya, while continuing work on a Djiboutian recreational area.

• Date Taken: 12.22.2009
• Date Posted: 12.22.2009 05:32
• Story ID: 43029