BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2004 — Residents of the Wasit province accepted two refurbished kindergartens for their children at a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 29 near An Numaniyah Military Training Base, in the city of An Numaniyah, according to Office of Security Transition officials.

“The community already sees that we are genuinely committed to helping them,” said Maj. John R. Ciccarelli, commanding officer of An Numaniyah Military Training Base. “By engaging directly with local leaders and involving ourselves with projects like this, we are demonstrating that we are only here as temporary guests and would like to help as much as we can before we leave.”

The project was paid for by funds from the Commanders Emergency Response Program, a fund reserved to improve the lives of Iraqis. The refurbishment started in June 2004 and was completed in July at a cost of $100,000.

“By working on projects that the community feels are important, we are making a more profound and lasting impact,” Ciccarelli said.

Upon arriving at An Numaniyah, the coalition met with local leaders to identify what areas were in need of help. The city leaders responded: schools, water, and hospitals. On each project, local Iraqis decide what they want and how it will be built. With the kindergartens, a committee from the Teacher’s League of An Numaniyah supervised the reconstruction to their specifications.

“When we started these projects, they asked me what type of school I was going to build. I told them it was their decision --

that we were only here to help, which seemed to shock many of them,” Ciccarelli said. “Particularly coming from the Saddam regime, they are fascinated and gratified that they now have a say in how their community will be built. Democracy in action is a beautiful thing.”

“Building or rebuilding of schools, water infrastructure and hospitals, along with MEDCAPs (Medical Civil Action Programs), are designed to demonstrate to the Iraqi people that the base is a good neighbor. We also want the community to see that the Iraqi army is now a servant of the people, not an oppressor of them,” he added.

The school opening is important Ciccarelli said because it is the first of a series of projects aimed at helping the people of An Numaniyah and Wasit province. The base and the Iraqi army have a coordinated program of civic action in the local community.

“Our civil action working group for the base consists of both U.S. and Iraqi military, civilian contractors, and local businessmen, and community leaders,” Ciccarelli said. Each school will hold 50 students and the coalition will distribute toys and games at the beginning of the school year. Coalition soldiers will contribute the toys donated by their friends and family.

“The opening is very, very good. Especially the kids were very happy for your work,” Sayid Habib told Ciccarelli. “When the others heard you come, the parents bring their kids, because we are very happy for the work that was done,” he added.