To all who would like to make a difference to the children of Iraq, I am beginning a project to renovate three schools in Karmalese and one school in Al Hillelah village behind our compound. Karmalese is an Assyrian Christian village approximately 30 minutes from Crusader Base and Al Hillelah village is about a 5 minute commute from my compound.
There are three schools that are considered primary for boys and girls (grades 1-6) and one school is a secondary school (grades 6-12). Unfortunately the secondary school is in the worst condition of all. Majority of the schools have poor plumbing, no air conditioning or heating units. There are no phones, no televisions, refrigerators or microwaves. Electricity is sporadic, desks date back to the 1950s and are in badly need of repair, walls are bare and/or covered in rust, windows are partially broken, screens torn and sporting fields are covered in rocks and overgrown thorn bushes. We think our quality of learning in America is at times less than to be desired…you haven’t seen anything yet. We take so much for granted.
I have enclosed a few pictures to give you a look at the project we are about to undertake. I have been receiving estimates from electricians and carpenters from Karmalese and within the next few days should have a completed estimate as to how much money the project will cost. I have recently met with the headmasters of all four schools and the Shek / leader of each village to inform him of our future endeavor. Once I receive the estimates I will submit to the 101st Division Artillery for a OCPA project where we will request funds from the government to be committed to this project. Now, I bet you are wondering how you can help? I believe there are a few items we can send immediately to help, once I receive the estimates for the cost of reconstruction and find out how much the government will allocate to the project I may ask for donations to cover the delta if it is not completely funded. I look forward to painting logos of all schools that help with the project on the walls of these schools. The headmaster looks forward to the support and is especially grateful for our countries support.
4 Schools:
