A new 150-meter long brick wall, three meters tall, will be built for the Baghdad School of Music and Ballet, the premier conservatory for children in Iraq.

The old metal fence, which was relatively weak and in disrepair, was overrun and left in ruins in a riot about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago, resulting in the destruction of much property including 17 rare pianos and a large drop-off in enrollment in the 300-student school as parents withdrew their children due to security concerns. Fortunately, the Swiss and Norwegian embassies have donated some money and a collection of twenty-five instruments to help the school's programs resume.

The project will begin tomorrow and will be completed in approximately three weeks, employing perhaps 15-20 bricklayers and assistants.

Rioters outside the Baghdad School of Music & Ballet destroyed the metal fence surrounding the school on October 4th, and burned and looted some of the school's music instruments, as well as threatened the schools 250 students. JumpStart is replacing the fence with a 3 meter tall, 150 meter long brick wall to protect the compound of (about five) school buildings.

Little remains to protect the school, which is next to the American military field where ex-Iraqi soldiers are paid wages.

Razor wire is all that separates many sections of the school from the street.

Even the fence that stands doesn't provide much of a deterrent.

An overhead view.

The new wall rises.

The new wall stands 24 cm wide by 3 meters high (about 1 foot wide by 9.5 feet high)

An overhead view of one section of the new wall.