Thursday, 24 July 2008 By:  Staff Sgt. J.B. Jaso III
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

A student of the Al Abbas primary school explains locations on a map that is painted on the outside of the newly refurbished school, July 17. Photo by Staff Sgt. J.B. Jaso III.

  CAMP TAJI — The schoolhouse is run down.

Water leaks through numerous cracks in the roof and air conditioners do not operate, effectively causing temperatures inside the building to climb to unbearable lengths.

The walls covered with mold, no doors to the classrooms, broken windows, and cracks in the walls large enough to see the surrounding farmlands.

Despite all this, approximately 600 students at the Al Abbas primary school, located in northwest Baghdad’s remote New Taji Nahia, continued to study and garner their education.

Capt. Shaun Wheelwright first visited the school in February and said he was saddened to see the conditions of the school. Wheelwright, the former executive officer for Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds,” 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, saw that more than half of their desks were broken, without desktops or seats, and each desk was used for six or more students.

Wheelwright said he wanted to help in any way that he could. That help began after he told his wife, about the poor conditions. He said she was also saddened to hear about the conditions and contacted a Hawaiian-based company, Oils of Aloha, for assistance.

The first donation of school supplies reached the students April 26. Wheelwright led the “Wolfhounds” and Iraqi Army Soldiers to the school to hand out the much-needed supplies.

Oils of Aloha donated more than 20 large boxes of supplies, which included pencils, paper, notebooks, rulers, and more.

“We are very happy and grateful,” said Braheem Ahmed Hamid, the school’s headmaster, after receiving the school supplies. “We are always in short supply of school supplies.”

Wheelwright knew the supplies were a start, but it would not be enough.

Immediately following that visit, the Wolfhound leadership worked with the Government of Iraq and applied for funding for reconstruction of the rickety schoolhouse.

The project was approved utilizing Iraqi Commanders Emergency Relief Program and government of Iraq funding resulting in over $260,000 rewarded in June.

“The Al Abbas school was the least functioning school in the area,” said Capt. Brian Sweigart, former commander for Company A, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., and his unit was responsible for the area which the school was in. “The kids wanted an education, and they had no other choice. Three schools in the area were destroyed by terrorists some time ago, and now the Al Abbas school is the only school in the area.”

Sweigart relinquished command of Co. A in April, then assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., and took the lead of the battalion’s embedded Local Reconstruction Team. He is now responsible for acquiring funds, and recommending projects such as the Al Abbas school.

One of his new duties includes inspecting the progress of the reconstruction projects. While traveling to the Al Abbas school to see the finished project, June 17, Sweigart rode in the back of a Stryker armored vehicle with a smile on his face, looking eager to see the school. As the Stryker ramp was lowering, Sweigart yelled, “I’m excited!”

Sweigart, who hasn’t seen the school since April, walked through the newly refurbished school with local leaders. The courtyard and classrooms that were previously muddy are now cemented.

The cracks in the walls were fixed, and the school was resurfaced and painted.

Artwork adorned the exterior of the classrooms, including a map of the region. Environmental control units were installed, desks repaired, and restrooms built. The school looked new.

“I’m impressed,” Sweigart said as he walked through what was previously the worse school in the area. “They did a good job [reconstructing the school]. It is above standard.”

 “Education is the foundation for any country,” stated Capt. Mark Weber, effects coordinator with 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt. “Providing an environment where the students are able to concentrate on their studies will develop the next set of leaders for Iraq.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 4:03 PM and is filed under Iraq Up Dates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.