Build it and they will come

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erin Dorrance
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Rwanda --  A young Rwandan boy leaves barefoot on a 3-mile walk to retrieve water for his family who lives in a home with no electricity or running water. The six-mile commute consumes most of his day, keeping him from enrolling into school.

The Bugesera region of eastern Rwanda has solved the problem of water versus school, by building the Shyara School across the street from a communal well. Now children can bring empty water containers to school and fill them when school is dismissed.

The new primary school, which will accommodate 300 male and female students, is a project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's Humanitarian Assistance program. The project is sponsored by European Command and received contracting support from U.S. Central Command Horn of Africa. Once African Command is fully established, the Shyara School is an example of several humanitarian projects the command will be involved with.

Construction began on the $200,000 school on Aug. 17, 2007, and is projected to open by the end of November of 2007, said Ghulam Muhammad, site foreman for the school.

Not only will the children in the community benefit from the school, but the construction site employs 45 local community members.

"Many of the townspeople are learning skills they can use in the future," said Mr. Muhammad, who has hired some of the workers to work on future construction projects in Rwanda.

Most of the supplies used to build the school were also purchased locally, he said. The school is being built using Steel FrameMaster construction, which is New Zealand technology that has been implemented around the world. The construction utilizes a light-gauge steel frame that is cut and labeled with numbers for easy assembly.

"There is no need to measure," said Mr. Muhammad, who added that the school's structure is completely fire proof.

The school and employment opportunity have bolstered a struggling community. In 1994, several Rwandans fled from the region to Tanzania when the genocide war broke out. It is estimated that approximately 75,000 Rwandans are living in Tanzania and could return home to Rwanda. A new school is essential for supporting Rwandans as they transition back into the country, said Army Lt. Col. Robert Frum, European Command Humanitarian Assistance office.

As walls were raised onto the main frame of the school, dozens of townspeople stood at the gate and watched the spectacle. One mother slowly walked by the construction site's gate carrying a full container of water atop of her head. She rubbed her son's back and told him he would be able to attend the school as soon as he was old enough. The boy's face glowed with happiness and he smiled uncontrollably at the thought.

Everyone involved in the project is excited for its completion.

"I am so proud to be part of this project," said Army Maj. Ron Miller, US Defense and Army Attaché in Rwanda. "This school represents opportunities for hundreds of Rwandan children who may one day be governing the country."