posted August 08, 2006 12:43 PM            

August 6, 2006

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI — Assyria Village held a grand opening for a women’s center just outside the gates of Camp Taji Wednesday.

The center will provide women in the small village a place to meet, sew, cook and use the center’s computers.

The $230,000 building is brand new and is equipped with 12 sewing machines, 12 computers, a kitchen, office space, a back-up generator and two ovens.

“This is the first building I’ve ever heard of that is just for women,” said Capt. Holly Hanson, a team leader for 414th Civil Affairs Battalion
The unit is attached to the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.

“There aren’t a lot of chances for women in this part of the world. It (the women’s center) will give them a sense of accomplishment and an education that they won’t get anywhere else.”

Iraqi women have faced decades of oppression and there is a large education gap between men and women, although women are 60 percent of the population. In March 2006, during the signing of Iraq’s interim constitution, more than 200 women marched in Baghdad for greater rights. For many, this was the first time they had ever seen women demonstrate freely in Iraq.

With changes in how Iraqis view women occurring slowly, centers this one in Assyria Village are a welcome relief.

“This project has been very well received in this community,” said Fred Nightengale, resident engineer for Camp Taji with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Nightengale has been a part of the project since its inception.

“Here in Iraq, women don’t get to do a lot. The center is a real boost to this community because it gives them an opportunity to help out.”
The center plans on having education classes for women to improve literacy, which remains a problem throughout the country. In addition, women can take classes on the internet, if they are able to read, and can make a living by making garments in the sewing shop.

“I’m planning on making clothes here to sell to people so I can make some money for my family,” said a local woman, who was already making clothes at the grand opening. “I’ve been waiting for this place to open for a long time, and I’m very happy now that I can come sew here.”

posted August 08, 2006 01:17 PM              

Unfortunately, I suspect the building is going to come under attack (read: car bomb, etc) by those who wish to thwart any U.S. assisted progress.