FORWARD OPERATING BASE KEY WEST, Qayyarah, Iraq - Mayor Ra'ed Abed Ali from Al Hadr and Engineer Hesham from DG Roads and Bridges are currently working together with Green Dream Ltd. on a project that is training and employing students, while at the same time building the Tal Abtha Road.
This project's main goal is to assist the local economy's growth through a better transportation and export route.
More than 30 villages in areas between Mosul and Tal Apta will be significantly impacted by the completion of this project. Villagers from the rural areas will have an easier means of delivering products they grow or manufacture to the closest large city, Mosul.
The approximately $13 million project is currently in phase two of three. It has gone from employing 160 previously unemployed villagers to nearly 400 with in the last few months. These villagers became students, learning the skills it takes to become trained road construction workers.
"This road will support the infrastructure needs of the area and will help the local economy grow to an all new level," said Capt. James Covington, commander of E Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. Covington is also the technical representative for this project.
Covington went on to say, "this project also employs students and teaches them skills to find another job once the project is completed, the students that perform well will be considered for hire on future projects."
The workers are being trained in one of three fields: tack welding, heavy machine operation and culvert work.
"We would like to thank coalition forces for their efforts on achieving this project" said Fathil Mohammed Abdullah, the Green Dream Representative for this project.
"This project will be successful on many levels, not only in the completion of the road but also the training that the students are receiving" said Capt. Stephen S. Trotter Team 14 team chief with B Co., 448th Civil Affairs Bn.
As long as everything goes according to plan the project will be finished in Dec. this year. The project is currently on schedule.
"I want to thank the coalition forces for having this opportunity for doing this project it is going to open a lot of doors for a lot of families, so thank you very much," said Haji Ismael Umer Abdullah, the foreman of the project who directly supervises the workers.
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