Photo By Master Sgt. Donna Jeffries | Two youth from the Red River Orphanage in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, select clothes and...... read more read more
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - Busloads of children are a familiar sight in the States this time of year; however, it's a sight rarely seen at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. That is until Aug. 28, 2013 when a busload of children from the Red River Orphanage in Bishkek, the country's capital city, arrived at TCM's front gate ready for a much-anticipated excursion.
About 20 young orphans and their chaperones took part in a tour hosted by the 376th Expeditionary Security Force Squadron's Cops 4 Kids organization. The group began about 10 years ago with the goal to provide partnership to the local community. Its members adopted the orphanage and throughout years of personnel rotations have remained dedicated to providing mentorship, material goods, labor, skills as well as their time and hearts to more than 120 disadvantaged youth.
Each week a dozen or so members visit the orphanage to spend time with the children, playing games, making repairs to the facility, improving the grounds and bringing treats and groceries they purchase on the way at a local market.
Recently the organization donated 130 new mattresses and several tables and benches. They also completely renovated a shower. Volunteers plan to buy paint and have the kids decorate the tables with their handprints as a way of incorporating crafts in their time spent together.
"Every week we show up and get to see the faces of these kids light up with excitement ready to play and enjoy the day with us," said Staff Sgt. Timothy White, 376 ESFS member and brainchild of the field trip. "Then we find out what they need and take care of it."
The father of two said he realized the orphans only knew the Cops 4 Kids volunteers as "the people who come to play on Thursday" and he wanted to show them their playmates' military job and work environment.
Since this trip was a first for the organization many details needed to be worked, but after weeks of coordination and one failed attempt the tour received approval, said White.
The trip proved to be multifaceted. It allowed the orphans to see a different side of their American military friends and also to see something outside their orphanage compound where they spend the majority of their time.
The day included a drive around tour of the Transit Center, a walk through the security forces compound area and later another stop to view a military working dog demonstration. The group also visited the flightline to see a KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III static display.
Smiles were on the faces of everyone throughout the day making it hard to tell who was the most excited, the orphans or the Cops 4 Kids members conducting the tour.
"I really like having this responsibility," said Meder Musakozhoev, 376 ESFS Kyrgyz translator. "I'm happy to be there [at the orphanage] every week to help them feel like someone cares about them."
The orphans aren't the only ones who benefit from the weekly exchange.
"It's a breath of fresh air to see kids," said White a native of Blue Springs, Mo.
That's part of what makes the Cops 4 Kids so attractive to its current 30-plus members. The fact that they get to connect to kids helps them deal with the separation from their little ones back home.
"I have three kids at home that I miss," said Chicago, Ill., native Tech. Sgt. Rafael Gonzalez, president of Cops 4 Kids. "It helps me by giving my time to these children who also need a role model."
With the groundwork in place and the first tour a success, the organization plans to schedule future tours to give all the Red River orphans an opportunity to see just what the Transit Center and their military buddies are all about.
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2013 01:39 |
| Story ID: | 112960 |
| Location: | TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KG |
| Hometown: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US |
| Hometown: | BLUE SPRINGS, MO, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Hometown: | FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 106 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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