Americans, Djiboutians build relationships

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Francesca Popp
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (AFPN) --  Reminiscent of a neglected, one-room schoolhouse, the Horsed Private School of English sits on a dusty, goat-lined road in the Balbala section of Djibouti City, Djibouti.

Students pack the schoolhouse and sit on makeshift benches, eagerly waiting for members from Camp Lemonier and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to begin the English Discussion Group.

"This group is a good way for the students to practice speaking English," said Senior Master Sgt. Editha Garcia, the group coordinator. "Being that they don't have any interaction with Americans, they can listen to a native English speaker."

The discussion group, part of a community outreach program, provides a forum for U.S. military members, civilians and contractors at the camp to speak with Djiboutian high school and college students.

Camp participants visit the school weekly. The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti City provides topics ranging from hobbies to religion. The topic tonight was immigration.

Students asked about the U.S. immigration process -- the paperwork they needed and how long it would take to become a citizen.

Raho Issa, 17, is one of the nearly 75 students who regularly attend the discussion group.

"I'm excited about coming here and learning from the Americans," said the teenager, who speaks French, Somali, Arabic and English. "They are teaching us something that is very important."

The purpose of the discussion group is to build relationships with the local residents.

"This is a way, through our participation, we can share ideas and engage in a cultural exchange, and even use the forum to correct any misperceptions," said Sergeant Garcia, an information manager and senior enlisted advisor for the CJTF-HOA strategic communications directorate. "It's a way to correct anything they may have heard about our mission, why we're here and our policies."

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James DiPinto, a discussion group volunteer, agreed.
"It gives them another side of who we are and what we represent," said Petty Officer DiPinto, who is assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 at the camp. "We're here to try to prevent anybody else from coming in and giving them a false reading of who and what we are. We want them to hear it from us directly."

The petty officer originally signed up to be a driver. Now, he said he looks forward to his weekly trips to the school.

"The kids remember me," he said. "They expect me (to be here), and I like to live up to that. It gives them something to look forward to and me too."

Awad Eleyeh, 18, is "very excited" the Americans are coming out to the school to talk with the students.

"It is very interesting when you see the native people from another country speak in their own language, and you are learning their language" said Awad, who wants to be an interpreter. "When they speak to you, you learn more things, like (how to) better converse in English. (I'm) able to learn how to correctly pronounce certain words and (I'm) also learning to speak the language better."

CJTF-HOA supports seven English Discussion Group schools -- six civilian and one military. Up to eight camp participants meet with discussion group students seven times a week, with approximately 25 students per class.

"The experience being out there, meeting the community and being an ambassador for the U.S. Armed Forces and CJTF-HOA is truly rewarding," said Sergeant Garcia. "We're here helping people understand our mission and policies. Being there on a regular basis, not only are you sharing ideas, but you are also helping build better relationships with the community and government. On a personal level, you develop friendships with them that could last a lifetime."

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page