Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
28 August 2007
Battle Group opens new classrooms at Al Najem
Thanks to Australian funding, the school of Al Najem in southern Iraq has been transformed from an old shabby tent into a proper school with modern class-rooms.
The Australian soldiers received a warm welcome from the locals and the children when they visited Al Najem to officially open the refurbished school.
The new class-rooms replaced an old tent that did little to protect the children from the blistering midday heat that reaches 55 degrees celsius.
Now the children can learn in the comfort of proper class-rooms with seats and desks, where the teacher can write lessons on a blackboard.
The Australian soldiers also gave the children school supplies and a selection of toys.
The Australian battle group's focus on helping the children of Iraq follows the release of a UNICEF report that war and widespread sectarian violence had left thousands of children parentless and homeless.
The school project is one of the many Australian development projects that are helping to raise living standards for the people of southern Iraq.
The Australian-funded projects include providing generators, water purifiers, and other essential infrastructure including school buildings and educational material.
This is one of the important ways in which the Australian Defence Force (ADF) directly contributes to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
| 20070811army8500215_865 Iraqi children sing the praises of the Australian soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070811army8500215_879 Captain Adam Loughrey (right) and soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 recently visited Al Najem in southern Iraq to officially open a school which had been refurbished. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070811army8500215_888 Major Troy Ramage (right) and soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 recently visited Al Najem in southern Iraq to officially open two new classrooms that were constructed using Australian funds. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070811army8500215_919 Private Matthew Pratten, 23, of Sydney, joins the children of Al Najem, in southern Iraq, in celebrating the opening of their new classrooms. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070811army8500215_931 Major Troy Ramage (right) of the Australian Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 discusses a future water pump project with the tribal leaders of Al Najem village in southern Iraq. The local sheikh said the village is sometimes without potable water and requires a new water pump and treatment facility. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070811army8500215_938 Corporal Sam Clarke (left) and soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 enjoy a traditional Arab feast of goat meat and rice, courtesy of the people of Al Najem in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 11 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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