Home   :   Deployment Archive   :   School Supplies

School Supplies

The Al Huda Association for Women was formed 1 May 2005 as a non-governmental organization (NGO) for the purpose of promoting the development and providing humanitarian assistance for needy men, women and children of the 2500 families in the Dhi Qar Province of southern Iraq. In carrying out their mission, the Al Huda association establishes lecture meetings to discuss issues of unemployment and illiteracy among the Iraqi citizens. Miss Eman Al Fadil is a teacher at the association and directs many of the programs. One program consists of summer courses designed for children having difficulty learning. One class began July 1 and will continue through September 1. Women volunteers teach the program. She has also organized sewing classes for young women.

There is no budget for this association so in order to keep this work going the Al Huda Association must rely on donations. The association has requested sewing machines and sewing supplies, school and office supplies, toys for children and water.

In early July, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Porrelli, Commandant of the Italian Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Center Group South in southern Iraq, approached Lieutenant Colonel Bart Butler, Civil Affairs (S-5) Officer of the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard about the possibility of acquiring school supplies for the Al Huda Association for Women located in An Nasiriyah.

Since the 194th has been receiving school supplies from soldiers' families, friends and organizations back home for the past 6 months through its "Backpacks for Iraq" program, LTC Butler was happy to help. The 194th Engineers donated many pencils, pencil sharpeners, notebook paper and other supplies to the NGO.

LTC Butler also approached Ms. Shirley Goodine, who is an employee of the Corps of Engineers' Gulf Region Division and asked if she would like to donate her school supplies and toys. Ms. Goodine, who is slated to leave Iraq in the near future, was also glad to help.

LTC Porrelli, LTC Butler and Ms. Goodine recently met with representatives of the Al Huda Association for Women, children of the Amina School in An Nasiriyah and Miss Al Fadil at the Italian CIMIC Center at Camp Mittica. They handed out backpacks containing crayons, pencils, paper and other items to a number of happy children of the school. Refreshments were also served compliments of LTC Porrelli.

The 194th Engineer Brigade (TA), Tennessee Army National Guard, Jackson, Tennessee was mobilized as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 and deployed to Iraq in January 2005. The Brigade Commander is Brigadier General Jimmy Welch, a resident of Dyersburg. Lieutenant Colonel Bart Butler is a resident of Pulaski. Ms. Goodine is a resident of Waynesville, Missouri.

Before coming to Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Porelli was the Chief CJ9, Italian Army and is from Mottadilivenza, Italy near Treviso.

LTC Bart Butler (left), Ms. Shirley Goodine (3rd from right) and LTC Porelli (2nd from right) donate backpacks and school supplies to the children of the Amina School in An Nasiriyah. In back is Miss Eman Al Fadil a teacher at the school and Director of the Al Huda Association for Women. The gentleman on the right is unidentified.

LTC Porrelli (left) and LTC Butler examine some of the school supplies

Story and photos by SFC Pete Quinton, S-5/PAO,
194th Engineer Brigade (TA)
Tennessee Army National Guard
Tallil, AB, Iraq