Eglin Airman joins volunteers building desks for Iraqi children

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Francesca Popp
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq --  Children living in Iraq's Muthanna Province will be starting a new school year in a few weeks. This year, more than 450 elementary-aged students attending one of two schools will not only be learning in a new building, but the will also receive "new" desks built by volunteers here.

"We are building desks for Iraqi children," said Army Chaplain (Capt.) Damon Saxton, 7th Special Troops Battalion chaplain. "They're currently sitting on the floor, because they have no desks or chairs. It's important for the kids to get a good education, and to have a nice desk to sit in and work on."

The Muthanna Provincial Reconstruction Team discovered about 3,000 desks, which were old, rusty steel frames, sitting in a warehouse after meeting with the Iraqi director general of education. A PRT staff member contacted the Contingency Operating Base Adder chapel staff here to see if they were interested in taking on the refurbishing project.

"The desks didn't have tops or seats on them and were damaged. The PRT felt the Army could provide the expertise and manpower to refurbish those desks," said Saxton, who is deployed from Fort Eustis, Va. "When they showed us what the projected was, it seemed like it was something we could easily handle. We volunteered to take on the project to help rebuild these desks."

After working out the details with the Muthanna PRT, the chapel staff decided they could easily rebuild about 150 desks, but were given 25 to start and test how long it took for each part of the process. Since then, the PRT has provided all the tools, wood and supplies to complete the desks. The chaplain said he and one other soldier spent a day cutting all the wood.

"We worked more than 24 hours straight the first day before taking a nap. We were both excited about getting it done," Saxton said. "When my boss saw me with red eyes, she said, 'You need some help.' That's when we called for volunteers."

The call for volunteers went out via e-mail and word of mouth. The flyer read the "tasks include sanding, grinding, welding, varnishing and sawing. We will teach you what to do." The next day Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Defense Department civilians here began learning how to rebuild the other 125 desks.

"This is a nighttime operation with most volunteers working 3-4 hours at a time, with some working well into the night," he said, noting two-thirds of the volunteers are Air Force. "Almost all the volunteers work a 12-hour day and then come here to work on the desks."

One Airman, who received the e-mail, rallied others in his unit to volunteer their time with him. Tech. Sgt. Dennis Coffer, 407th Provost Marshal Office NCO in charge of supply, said he and his co-workers have sanded and varnished numerous pieces of wood pieces for the desks, and straightened and painted more than 20 desk frames.

"Each of us has general (construction) experiences," said Coffer, who hails from San Diego. "Our superintendent has built his own house deck. I have worked in assembly before I joined the Air Force, and our military police investigator likes to paint. We just combined all our talents and it worked out better than we imagined."

The chaplain said this project was originally going to be a training opportunity for the Iraqi army, but they were called away on other missions.

"Without the volunteers, the whole project would have been in trouble," said Alex Bennett, a Muthanna PRT governance specialist. "With their efforts and commitment, we have managed to bring the project to life and placed a vision in the mind of the (Iraqi director general of education), as well as the (nongovernmental organization), on what can be achieved by having people who are committed to a worthy cause."

It's sentiments like that Coffer, who is deployed from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., said is what really motivated him jump into action. He wanted to be apart of this project, "because it improves the quality of life for the children here. It makes me feel proud because I am part of something really special that I won't ever forget."

The desks are no frills with 4-foot wide wooden tops and backless bench-style seats. The frames are made out of hollow steel, 1-inch-by-2-inches wide.

"They remind me of a 'little house on the prairie' desk," said Saxton, who is originally from Emmett, Idaho. "They seat about 4 children to one desk here, where we may only seat two children per desk."

The chaplain estimates the project, which began Sept. 2, will take several weeks to finish.

"It's a synergism - separately we couldn't have accomplished as much as working together, that is the state department and the military," he said.

The chaplain said he would like to refurbish more desks, but knows this undertaking is part of a larger project. He said after the desks are delivered later this month, the Iraqi nongovernmental organization will continue to refurbish the rest of the desks.

"This will help Iraqi primary school children get better facilities, as well as show that the U.S. military is helping Iraqi community rebuild it self. It will send a message to the entire province that project selection, linked to a well thought out strategy and quality workmanship, can benefit under-served areas that now can feel they have a voice in governance process and its benefits," said Bennett, a Brisbane, Australia, native who has worked with the PRT since April 2007. "Additionally, the message is sent that elected officials working with the PRT and U.S. military can deliver tangible quality-of-life improvements to their people."