Rashid Community Leaders Open District Council Hall

In spite of challenges, individual American soldiers keep improving life for Iraqis.

Al Rashid district of Baghdad. Photo: U.S. Army

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - Leaders from the Rashid district community, local Iraqi Special Forces, and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, gathered to demonstrate their joint commitment to improve the quality of life for Iraqi citizens during the commemoration of a new building for the Rashid District Council Hall on April 26th.

"This building provides the leaders and citizens of Rashid a meeting place to voice their concerns to their elected officials, to plan, and with wisdom, map out the way of progress for all Iraqis here in Rashid," said Col. Ted Martin, cmdr, 1st BCT.

The Rashid District Council is a self-governance program, where community leaders work with the estimated 1.2 million people of the Rashid district to help restore order to local neighborhoods. "When terrorism attempted to halt creativity and progress, our efforts were pulled together to repel all forms of terrorism for the purpose of moving forward and rebuilding," said Yosif, head chairman of the Rashid DC.

"We are hopeful that it becomes the first of many projects in Al-Rashid district and throughout Iraq," Yosif added.

An example of ongoing efforts to stabilize everyday life for the people of Rashid is the unveiling of a new construction project to build a HQ for the Civil Services Department in the Jihad community of Rashid, on April 25th, according to Lt. Col. Paul Hossenlopp, deputy comm. officer, 1st BCT.

"The CSD Building will be the first community services building in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. It will eventually operate with the support of the GOI and provide permanent jobs for local communities, by creating and sustaining an Iraqi workforce employed to rebuild Baghdad’s infrastructure and restore essential services to the citizens of Rashid," said Lt. Col. Hossenlopp.

The construction project employs an estimated 400 Iraqis and provides vocational tutoring and on-the-job training for the unskilled laborers. Based on the program’s success, other CSD Buildings will be planned for the Rashid district and Baghdad.