The children of the newly built Al Zaffer School, located in the farming community of Dhi Qar Province just southeast of Baghdad, were recently at the receiving end of the charitable program when Hense, along with two other fellow USACE soldiers paid the school a visit to hand out toys, candy, books, school supplies, toothpaste and clothing. The items were donated by The Potomac Crest Baptist Church in Woodbridge.
The Corps of Engineers completed construction this summer on the al-Zaffer School. The school cost $893,000 to construct, has 12 classrooms and holds 300 students. It is also equipped with a basketball/volleyball combination court.
Master Sgt. Taylor, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Adder Resident Office, which is part of the SAO, says the goal of the program is to pair like U.S. organizations with their Iraqi counterparts, but that the program “would applaud help from any organization that is willing to assist in any way possible by donating badly needed items or funds to purchase these items.”
Follow-up correspondence such as photos of the Iraqi organizations receiving donated supplies and thank you notes can also be exchanged as part of the program.
“Much of Iraq still operates with daily rationed electricity, poor water and living conditions and limited supplies of daily use materials such as personal hygiene products,” said Hense.
“There are Iraqi children that have grown up with very little hygiene products and who are too poor to enjoy toys or to have the essentials for school. Outreach and relationship building at the community level can foster a lasting bond which can become the bedrock for future partnering and a safer environment.”
Since 2004, USACE has completed more than 4,900 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $7.8 billion, and has more than 200 projects ongoing. The overall reconstruction effort in Iraq currently provides jobs for more than 20,000 Iraqis.
For more information about how you can participate in the Adopt-A-Project program, email [email protected], or contact Hense at 540-542-5293 or via email at [email protected].
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