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Renovations pave the way to stability and partnership

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Stormee Newcomb, a Seabee with Mobile Naval Construction Battalion applies tape to the interior of the Little Bear Kindergarten in preparation for painting, Sept. 16, 2012, at Udbina, Croatia. The kindergarten is being renovated with resources provided by the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Project.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Torres of Mobile Naval Construction Battalion paints some finishing touches to the interior of the Little Bear Kindergarten in preparation for it to be painted, Sept. 16, 2012 at Udbina, Croatia. The kindergarten is being renovated by the Seabees with resources provided by the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Project.

Croatian president, Ivo Josipovic (far left) greets Seabees of the Mobile Naval Construction Battalion 1, Sept. 17, 2012, at Ubina, Croatia. Josipovic visited Ubina to inspect the Little Bear Kindergarten, which is being renovated by the Seabees with resources provided by the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Project.

Croatian president, Ivo Josipovic (tan shirt) greets Lt. Gen. Darko Grdic, Croatian Chief Inspector of Defense, Sept. 17, 2012, at Ubina, Croatia. Josipovic visited Ubina to inspect the Little Bear Kindergarten, which was is being renovated with resources provided by the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Project.

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September 17, 2012
Staff Sgt. Jerry Griffis

UDBINA, Croatia- Renovations are nearing completion in Ubina, Croatia where U.S. Navy Seabees have been hard at work completing Humanitarian projects.

For the kindergarten class of Little Bear Kindergarten in the municipality of Udbina, the chance to get an adequate education in a facility with enough space is about to become a reality.

In coordination with the U.S. Embassy, United States European Command and the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Project, a portion of a building located within the town has been renovated to provide more space for the children in the small municipality.

The Croatian president, Ivo Josipović, toured the municipality and the site of the new school Sept. 17, 2012, to see the progress being made. Seabees from Mobile Naval Construction Battalion 1 have been working on the renovation since June.

The current detachment of Seabees took over the project in August after the previous detachment replaced all old plumbing and wiring.

The renovation of the kindergarten building is part of a project that also includes a new waterline that was installed earlier this year.

Diana Marsic, Humanitarian Assistance Program Coordinator for the U.S. Embassy said, “When the Seabees came to Croatia to do the site survey, they knew we were going to do the waterline project and I wrote up the proposal for the kindergarten renovation.”

The Seabees solicited for an additional project and the municipality informed them that the kindergarten needed renovated.

The waterline project was funded with $177,000 and an additional $110,000 was allocated for the renovation after the proposal was approved.

Seabees from the Mobile Naval Construction Battalion 1 used the opportunity to supplement their training and build upon their skills by renovating the kindergarten. They have also used this project as an opportunity to work with local Croatians.

The projects for the community have been well received by the citizens of Udbina.

Ivan Pesut, mayor of Udbina, said “We are thankful to the U.S. Embassy, [U.S. Forces], and to the American people for all of the donations and for their help with restoration of the water pipeline system as well as with rebuilding our kindergarten.”

“All this is of great help for us especially with rebuilding of our kindergarten, considering the fact that now we have up to 25 children waiting to be admitted into kindergarten. Of course all of this is very important to the local community.”

With the project nearing completion by the end of September, the kindergarten children in Udbina will soon be able to move to the new location.

“The children are currently being taught in the town library and they will be moved once the project is complete,” said Marsic. “More children will be enrolled and they are going to hire additional staff.”

"[Our purpose here] is threefold,” said Serafin. It's to develop our skills with this sort of work. It's to provide a good, useable facility for the local [population] and it is to help partnering between the Croatian people and the American people."

"I feel that we have achieved all three of [our] goals very well,” said Serafin. "It's a great opportunity for my Seabees to come in and do some work for the local people."

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