HAWIJAH — In the month which marked the birth of the United States of America and the liberation of other nations, July 5, will be remembered in Hawijah, Iraq, as the day its country’s deputy minister of education Nehad Al-Juburi and the prime minister’s education advisor Zaid Chaid paid a historic visit to bring national attention to a pilot literacy program underway here.

Five-hundred SoI members in four of the sub-districts of Hawijah, Iraq - Zaab, Abassi, Riyadh and Hawijah city - are currently participating in this program, which teaches students up to a 3rd to 4th grade reading level.

“Education is the foundation to rebuilding,” Dr. Nehad told the audience, which included close to 100 of Hawijah’s SoI students in the program in Hawijah. “You should be proud of what you are accomplishing here and know that you are setting the example for your country to follow,” he said.

According to its Ministry of Education, 5.6 million Iraqis are illiterate --30 percent of the population in Hawijah falls into that category.

The pilot program was envisioned by Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, and is being facilitated by Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Its initial design is to prepare SoI members for transition into the Iraqi security forces. The application process for both the Iraqi police and its army requires applicants to be literate.

The program kicked off in Hawijah, June 15, and is already fulfilling the dreams of some participants.

“I do not have the words to explain this great feeling I have when I was able to write and show my family my name for the first time,” Abdulkarem Khalif Faris, 24, said. “It was like flying. I want to thank God and my government for this chance.”

Faris had to quit at the elementary school level to help his family farm in this agricultural based economy. He hopes to apply to the IP Academy in Kirkuk City when the 4-month program ends.

Hawijah Mayor Sabah Khalaf Ali praised the combined efforts of the CF and ISF for the security gains measuring around a 90 percent reduction in violent attacks against CF, ISF and its citizens in this region which “will now allow us to focus our efforts on jobs and education,” he said.