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'Win the Peace’ coalition delivers hope for future
Air Force Link ^ | March 13, 2004 | Capt. Timothy Perez

Posted on 03/13/2004 8:09:06 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl

Air Force Link
 
Win the Peace’ coalition delivers hope for future


by Capt. Timothy Perez
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs


3/11/2004 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- More than 200 students at a school outside Nasiriya, Iraq, received a surprise delivery of school supplies donated by “Win the Peace.” WTP is an unofficial, organization made up of Airmen with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location.

The group raised funds for the shipment from Airmen here in December. They were able to purchase the supplies at discount prices from local vendors who were interested in contributing to the program.

More than 200 backpacks filled with paper, pencils, pens, erasers, calculators and other necessities were given to the children. Teachers also received a box containing soccer balls, various games and other recreational equipment.

Other items were donated by an elementary school at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., and the 9th Medical Group at Beale AFB, Calif.

The delivery was a coalition effort with Italian air force officials volunteering to fly the supplies from here to Tallil Air Base, Iraq. Coalition Provisional Authority officials, U.S. Army civil affairs Soldiers and British soldiers then took the items to Qurtabah Elementary School and a nearby facility.

“This is a generous offer by the American force to give these gifts for students,” said Jassem Mohmed Hasson, an Iraqi education development specialist. “These gifts will help the students in their studies and encourage them to do their best.”

He said the donations “will make the relationship between the Iraqi people and the Americans very strong, and also, that (they) will give students hope to study because the students were suffering during the previous regime of Saddam Hussein.”

Iraqi schools lack modern equipment in their classrooms, he said. Classrooms at Qurtabah have bench seats and tables for students. On one wall, there is a blackboard and some chalk. There are no lights, heat or air conditioning.

With 210 children studying math, reading, art, grammar, geography, history and science besides the English and Arabic languages, Kaleel Ebrahim Motlakh, the school’s head master, said he has his hands full.

“We hope to do the best for the students,” he said. “For example, they need a laboratory to learn technical classes or to learn applied classes, and also they need some enjoyment when they are studying.

“After the war, they are just reading and writing,” he said. “They don’t have any equipment for enjoyment, such as laboratories, a classroom for drawing or athletic equipment. That could help them develop their skills.”

Win the Peace has been active in the 380th AEW since May, and this is the third shipment made to Iraq since October. The previous two were sent to schools outside Kirkuk AB.

“I’m excited about what Win the Peace has done here,” said Col. Patrick Sheets, 380th AEW commander. “While the troops in Iraq fight terrorism on the ground Win the Peace brings that fight to the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.”

The organization continues to raise money and plans to send another shipment soon.

“This is a program that has done some great work, and I would like to see [it] continue though the following (air and space expeditionary force) cycles,” Colonel Sheets said. (Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Pubic Affairs contributed to this report)
 
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'Win the Peace' coalition delivers hope for future
 
NASIRIYA, Iraq -- Children from a local school select their backpacks donated by 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen. More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies and hygiene products were donated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham)  Download Full Image
 
'Win the Peace' coalition delivers hope for future
 
NASIRIYA, Iraq -- A school girl holds open a backpack recently delivered to her and more than 200 schoolmates by 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen. The backpacks were filled with school supplies and hygiene products. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham)  Download Full Image
 
'Win the Peace' coalition delivers hope for future
 
NASIRIYA, Iraq -- A school boy selects a backpack donated by 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen. More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies and hygiene products were donated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham)  Download Full Image
 
'Win the Peace' coalition delivers hope for future
 
NASIRIYA, Iraq -- Students from a local school open their backpacks recently donated by 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen. More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies and hygiene products were donated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham)  Download Full Image


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 380thaew; airforce; airmen; carepackages; gnfi; goodguys; iraq; iraqichildren

1 posted on 03/13/2004 8:09:07 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
More than 200 students at a school outside Nasiriya, Iraq, received a surprise delivery of school supplies donated by “Win the Peace.” WTP is an unofficial, organization made up of Airmen with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location.

“I’m excited about what Win the Peace has done here,” said Col. Patrick Sheets, 380th AEW commander. “While the troops in Iraq fight terrorism on the ground Win the Peace brings that fight to the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.”
 
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 Y Hearts and minds,

        

2 posted on 03/13/2004 8:10:22 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
The hippies call these Airmen baby-killers.
3 posted on 03/13/2004 8:15:35 PM PST by Spruce (revolvemonos)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Hearts And Minds ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

4 posted on 03/14/2004 7:22:34 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Look at their little faces, they're all so happy.
5 posted on 03/14/2004 8:02:27 AM PST by McGavin999 (Evil thrives when good men do nothing!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
6 posted on 03/14/2004 9:43:08 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for this thread Ragtime Cowgirl .. I needed it

Just look at their happy faces ... God Bless Our Military

7 posted on 03/14/2004 9:46:56 PM PST by Mo1 (Do you want a president who injects poison into his skull for vanity?)
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