Army Unit, Civil Affairs Team Hand Out $10,000 in Micro-grants

By Spc. Alexis Harrison, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Dec. 7, 2007 – Troops from Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, and a civil affairs team from 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion handed out $10,000 in micro-grant funds to an Iraqi small business and a home for mentally handicapped children.

Abdul Kareem Fasial, the owner of a small bakery in a Qadisiyah neighborhood, received $5,000 to go toward upgrades to what he called the best bakery in the neighborhood. "Cooperation made this all possible," Fasial said. "The soldiers made it very easy to get the grant, and I have no doubt that this will help me and the entire community."

Fasial and his small corner confectionery shop opened almost 30 years ago. He said his neighborhood has seen many rewards since the local leaders began working closely with the troops from 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, and others from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

"A lasting impact could be made if we endeared our Iraqi leaders to the cause," Army Lt. Col Michael Tarsa, the battalion’s commander, said.

The Dina Institute, which cares for mentally retarded children, also received $5,000, as well as several hundred pounds of rice, sugar, beans and other food. Tarsa said his troops have been to the institute several times to check up on the needs of Inam Jawad, the institute’s head caretaker, and her kids. After the first time they heard about the facility, they couldn't help but feel obligated to help, he said.

"We were drawn to the Dina Institute by the opportunity to help," Tarsa said. "They are a forgotten segment of society, and we knew we had the resources to help."

This wasn't the first time troops have helped the institute. But, it was the first time their help came in the form of money. Jawad said she will use the money to get caught up on employee salaries, medical supplies, and a few things to make the cold winter months go by a little easier.

Jawad thanked the troops and the council members who came to her aid a few months ago when all other channels seemed to fail. Word of the institute’s struggles traveled through channels and eventually reached Walid Taha and Nadia Al Ezzi, two prominent business people who work to help children in need.

Taha is the chief executive officer of a huge conglomerate in Iraq known as the Taha-Kubba group. This commercial juggernaut manages dozens of companies that are all based in Baghdad and have ties to several other countries.