BAGHDAD – Ebn Kuthrir School in Abu Ghraib was in desperate need of repair, with children attending classes with outdated or broken equipment and no air conditioning to fight the stifling heat.

Not anymore.

For the last few months, the school has been undergoing a facelift to correct these deficiencies and is now ready to receive the children. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, who helped coordinate the renovation, traveled to Abu Ghraib to open the reconditioned school, July 17.

“It’s been a big change,” said 2nd Lt. Will Daigle, fire support officer and a Cleveland, Tenn., native assigned to Company C, 1st Bn. “It was run down. Now it is the nicest building in the neighborhood. It is something they can look up to.”

Daigle said he believes education is the way ahead for the people of Iraq. It gives children a chance for a better future.

Although Company C had the lead on the mission, the school would never have been completed without their Iraqi counterparts’ involvement.

“Due to the great combined efforts of the Iraqis and the support of the U.S. forces, we made it a better place for a better future,” said Lt. Col. John Leffers, the commander of 1st Bn. and a Utica, N.Y., native. “This school symbolizes how important education is and that this country will get better and better.”

He said he hopes the school will be a positive example for all other schools in the area.

Before the school was transferred completely, key leaders in the Abu Ghraib area and U.S. Soldiers had a meeting to discuss any issues that may occur and what can be done to rectify them. Afterward, the group made a tour of the facility and finished with lunch. Everyone ate together and, despite some language barriers, enjoyed each other’s company.

Dhari al-Dhari, education chairman on the Abu Ghraib Council, said he was glad for the help the school received from U.S. forces.

“I thank them for what they have done here,” said Dhari. “If they were not here, it would have never been done. We are very grateful.”

He believes education is important for the future of his country.

“Why is education important?” asked Dhari, with a smile. “I wouldn’t be here speaking English with all the Soldiers.”

Capt. Jesse Allgeyer, commander of Company C, and a Warrenton, Ore., native, said it has been interesting to see how effective missions like this can be in rebuilding the country and gaining the confidence of the people.

As a parent, Allgeyer had another reason to find this mission important.

“I hope that it is a place where parents would want to send their children,” he said. “I hope we created a better place, a clean and comfortable place, where kids can focus on their studies. It has opened my eyes to where my children will go to school.”