Education as a way to fight Boko Haram

U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Kathleen Hanson observes a weaving project at the special education vocational training center in Ariana, Tunisia Nov. 3. A $675,000 extension to the center was funded by the AFRICOM Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Students develop artistic abilities at the special education vocational training center in Ariana, Tunisia Nov. 3. A $675,000 extension to the center was funded by the AFRICOM Humanitarian Assistance Program.

A student creates a piece of jewelry at the special education vocational training center in Ariana, Tunisia Nov. 3. A $675,000 extension to the center was funded by the AFRICOM Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Students learn horticulture skills at the special education vocational training center in Ariana, Tunisia Nov. 3. A $675,000 extension to the center was funded by the AFRICOM Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, in cooperation with the government of Djibouti, recently kicked off a health awareness campaign in Petite Doudah, Djibouti. Soldiers with the 407th Civil Affairs Battalion functional specialty team and CJTF-HOA medical specialists are facilitating a 48-week Basic Home Health Awareness program to educate Djiboutians on issues essential to healthy living.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rachelle Pasteris, Civil Affairs Functional Specialty Cell preventive health specialist assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, teaches a Djiboutian woman about proper hand washing during a Basic Home Health Awareness event in Petite Doudah, Djibouti, Feb.3, 2015. CJTF-HOA and the Djibouti Social Development Agency worked together to create the Basic Home Health Awareness program as part of a broader Djiboutian government initiative to combat poverty and create self-sustainment projects throughout Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ian Dean)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Commanding General, administers the officer’s oath to 2nd Lt. Komi Afetse, a U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command Soldier deployed to CJTF-HOA, during a ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb 14, 2015. Afetse immigrated to the U.S. from Togo and received his commission through the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Accession program, or direct commission (courtesy photo)

2nd Lt. Komi Afetse, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and Ambassador Dawn Liberi, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, pose for a photo during the 239th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration in Bujumbura, Burundi, Nov. 8, 2014. Afetse immigrated to the U.S. from Togo, and earned his commission through the Army Reserve Officer Accession Program on Feb. 14, 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Allison Pittam/Released)

The U.S. is known as “the land of opportunity.” American history has many stories of people who immigrated with little or nothing in search of a better life. For one man, the tales of the American dream inspired him to do just that.

Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., CJTF-HOA commander, briefed the cadets of the Joint Military Academy of Arta, Dec. 27, 2014, on the six principles used to empower agile and adaptive leaders in the conduct of unified land operations.

Cadets attend a briefing by Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa commander, at the Joint Military Academy, Arta, Djibouti, Dec. 27, 2014. Grigsby briefed on the six principles of mission command, providing the CJTF-HOA perspective in building a better leader and promoting Joint Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational teammates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie)

Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa commander salutes a cadet during a review of the troops at the Joint Military Academy, Arta, Djibouti, Dec. 27, 2014. Grigsby visited AMIA to instruct a course on the six principles of mission command, providing the CJTF-HOA perspective in building a better leader and promoting Joint Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational teammates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie)

From 17-19 September 2014, the United States Africa Command donated over $50,000 in educational materials to support the South African Government’s effort to improve education opportunities for children from lower quintile schools in the Republic of South Africa. (Courtesy photo)

From 17-19 September 2014, the United States Africa Command donated over $50,000 in educational materials to support the South African Government’s effort to improve education opportunities for children from lower quintile schools in the Republic of South Africa.

From 17-19 September 2014, the United States Africa Command donated over $50,000 in educational materials to support the South African Government’s effort to improve education opportunities for children from lower quintile schools in the Republic of South Africa. (Courtesy photo)

United States Africa Command donated over $50,000 in educational materials to support the South African Government’s effort to improve education opportunities for children.

The Department of Defense Ebola Treatment Training Team offers classes at the NPTA as well as two mobile classes that go out to the more remote locations to train health care workers.

How can children learn in schools where rain enters the classrooms and wind tosses notebooks to the floor? They can't, not properly.