Photo By Sgt. Michael Alberts | Lt. Col. Samuel Whitehurst, brigade deputy commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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by Spc. Mike Alberts
3rd BCT, 25 ID PAO
KIRKUK, Iraq – Good things happens in Kirkuk every day. On this day, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers saw their good work reflected in the smiles and laughter of Iraqi school children.
Iraqi government officials, U.S. Department of State representatives, 3rd BCT Soldiers and Iraqi children celebrated a collaborative effort to refurbish and re-supply the Musalla Secondary School for Boys and the Sadiq Al-Amin Elementary School for Girls as part of a "model schools program" in Kirkuk, Iraq, Oct. 7.
The model schools program is just one of dozens of social infrastructure assistance programs spearheaded by Iraqi and U.S. Government officials in the Kirkuk Province. In essence, four schools were selected to participate in the program based upon a variety of criteria. Each participating school was then rebuilt and refurbished to a "United Nations" standard with respect to class size and room configuration, according to Maj. Michael Benson, brigade engineer and command emergency response program manager, 3IBCT.
"Today, the mission was to finish delivering school supplies and furniture to Musalla and Sadiq Al-Amin," said Benson. "Earlier, we constructed new computer, physics, biology and chemistry classrooms for Musalla, and provided Sadig Al-Amin with two science classrooms and all necessary equipment," he said. "We planned today's event of delivering the remaining supplies to coincide with the first day of school."
Benson was quick to emphasize, however, that the "model schools program" is an Iraqi program involving Iraqi schools, Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi government.
"The Iraqi constitution guarantees every Iraqi citizen a free education," Benson continued. "Education is vital in Iraq. The next generation must have the technical skills they need to contribute to rebuilding this country. We are trying to underscore the importance of this fact."
Sadiq Al-Amin teaches about 600 students from first through sixth grade. Musalla educates about 360 students between the ages of 12 and 20. A notable alumnus of Musalla who was on-hand for the event was none other than Kirkuk's governor.
"This country is dependent on the rebuilding of essential infrastructure," said Governor Mustafa. "Part of that infrastructure is the children who we must take care of by providing them with equipment and supplies. They are the future of Kirkuk," said Mustafa.
Mustafa then took the opportunity to thank his allies. "We are grateful to coalition forces for providing the necessary support and supplies through the U.S. Department of State and the provincial reconstruction team (PRT)," he said
"Today is a very hopeful and positive moment in Kirkuk," said Jay Cosgrave, U.S. Department of State and PRT representative. "I consider teaching young people as one of the most important jobs in Iraq," said Cosgrave. "It truly is not the oil in Kirkuk but the students that are its greatest resource," he said.
Other leaders in attendance shared Cosgrave's optimism and priorities.
"Today is my best day in Iraq," said Patrick T. Stackpole, commander, 3IBCT. "I get to participate in helping young minds that are the future engineers, doctors and lawyers of Iraq," said Stackpole.
"I see the future of Iraq in your young faces. We are proud and honored to be a part of this project and to help work together to make Iraq a better place," he said.
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.12.2006 13:37 |
| Story ID: | 8008 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 142 |
| Downloads: | 56 |
This work, Third Brigade "invests" in Iraq's most valuable resource – its children, by SGT Michael Alberts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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