Basmah Hassan, 11, smiles as she shows a visitor the newly-painted classroom she’ll have for the new school year. It’s a far cry from the shoddy condition it was in last year before USAID and the Coalition Provisional Government (CPA) offered approximately $50,000 to the town for repairs to their school.

Aid workers held a community meeting to discuss the needs of the area and the people asked for the school repairs. Improved water supplies and a new clinic were at first the top priorities for the community but they chose the school in the end since it would benefit the most people.

About a half hour drive outside of the Iraqi city of Al Hillah, south of Baghdad, the principal serves as night watchman during the construction process to prevent any theft of building materials or new equipment.