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Al Fayha School Celebrates Completed Renovations

Mar-12-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

[Link to CJTF7 Press Release]

MOSUL, Iraq - The children enrolled at the Al Fayha School in eastern Mosul smiled, danced and clapped as they celebrated the completion of their school's much needed renovation with visitors from Task Force Olympia who played a role in organizing the renovations.

Yazi Sulaiman, Al Fayha's headmaster, said the students are very pleased with their new surroundings and that even though there have been many new people from the Coalition forces around, they have worked hard and done well on their latest exams. Having coalition Soldiers in the school "has taught my students not to be afraid of the Americans that they see in the street," said Sulaiman. "They can see that the Americans are trying to help us, and they are excited to learn at their new school." One school at a time, the Coalition forces of Task Force Olympia are working with Iraqi citizens to create a strong education system by building new and renovating old school buildings in and around the Mosul.

The Al Fayha School is the first of five school remodeling projects in the eastern Mosul area that the 445th Civil Affairs Battalion from Mountain View, Calif., has identified. Members of the U.S. Army's 445th Civil Affairs Battalion representing Task Force Olympia attended the ceremony held at the Al Fayha School. Task Force Olympia is the command and control element for the Multi-National Brigade North.

In the ceremony held Saturday, Maj. Larry L. Ogg, a Civil Affairs officer for 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and Capt. A.J. Newston, the commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, cut a ribbon to mark the completion of the renovation project.

"One of our main concerns is rebuilding the education system, from the bottom up, in Iraq," said Ogg. "Our mission is to help rebuild Iraq, working with the citizens of Iraq to prepare them for our departure."

The goal of the coalition forces work here is turning over complete control and management of the country to the Iraqi government.

In his role as a civil affairs officer, Ogg works with local citizens to identify schools that would most benefit from remodeling. After a selection is made, it is approved by Task Force Olympia, and a local contractor is selected to accomplish the work.
Ogg said that the plans to continue remodeling schools in Mosul focus on improving each building's appearance, electrical system, and sanitary conditions, so that children will have pride in where they go to learn every day.

The Al Fayha School was built in 1980 and has not had any significant maintenance until the renovation started last month. It is a primary school for grades 1-6 with almost 700 students and 21 teachers. Girls attend in the morning and boys attend in the afternoon.

Release #040311d


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