USACE increasing opportunities in Gabon one school project at a time

OYEM, Gabon - Education is key to creating better futures for individuals, but also better futures for communities more broadly. That's why the United States is partnering with Gabon on multiple school construction projects in the country, helping to create opportunities for young Gabonese students.

The school projects are part of the Humanitarian Assistance program funded by U.S. Africa Command, with the projects in Gabon being managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District in close partnership with the U.S. Embassy and local partners.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Embassy celebrated the completion of two school projects in Oyem - expansions and renovations of the Mekom Nkodje and Amitié primary schools.

The U.S. Ambassador to Gabon Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick cut the ribbon with local officials and project partners in September and highlighted the impact access to education can make and noted her own upbringing in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"The U.S. government and Department of Defense has provided this community with more than just a building," she said - translated from the French originally spoken during the ceremony. "These new classrooms, office spaces and much-needed facilities at both the Mekom Nkodje and Amitié primary schools are places where the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators will begin their journeys. From this community, future doctors, teachers, engineers, and perhaps a diplomat or two, will emerge, ready to shape the future of Gabon, Africa and the world."

In addition to the two recently completed renovations in Oyem, crews finished renovations on another school in Mabanda further to the south in Gabon last year.

Europe District Project Manager Phillip Tran oversees humanitarian assistance projects in Gabon and several other African countries and said he could really see the impact of the facility during his last visit to check the completed project.

"The Mabanda school was in excellent condition and the impact of the renovation to the local community was obvious," Tran said. "Classrooms were decorated with artwork created by the students, teachers were able to use the additional space to provide more focused teaching sessions. The overall feel was that the students enjoyed going to school and take pride in their efforts."

Often renovations at schools through the humanitarian assistance program focus on improvements that turn buildings into safe, stable structures for learning. The Mabanda renovations included much needed roof and drainage improvements. In fact, prior to the renovations, the school had to be evacuated on rainy days which severely impacted learning schedules.

Back to the north in Oyem, the two recently reopened renovated Mekom Nkodje and Amitié primary schools help relieve overcrowding on existing schools and serve the growing population. The Oyem community continues to grow, including a growing number of young families, and plans are already in the works for the next school project there.

Europe District plans to award a contract for construction of the new Ndava School in Oyem in 2025, with completion expected in 2026.

The project calls for construction of a new school facility with two new buildings with three classrooms in each.

In addition to the classroom buildings, the project will include construction of six new multi-compartment ventilated improved pit latrines, which are specially designed latrines built in areas where there is no dependable supply of piped water.

These latrines benefit the larger community as they are designed to reduce the gathering of flies and other disease carrying insects that often gather at restroom sites and are laid out to reduce lingering odors associated with their use.

Though the impact is large, the projects are comparatively small in budget with all three completed projects and the planned Ndava projects costing an estimated $2.5 million.

Tran came to Europe District from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District where he supported design reviews for large-scale hydroelectric dam projects, so managing humanitarian assistance projects like the ones in Gabon was a change.

"Coming from Portland District and one of our Mandatory Centers of Expertise's, working on the Humanitarian Assistance program has been eye opening, to say the least." Tran said. "Thus far, working with Europe District has been a challenge but also a pleasure. The logistical challenges of working OCONUS is compounded by the fact that a lot of the work being performed is in other countries, thus imposing differing laws, regulations, cultural norms, etc. However, the Europe District team that we have executing these efforts are awesome, and our interactions with the various Embassy's and local communities makes the efforts worthwhile."

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