Manas Airmen host Kyrgyz Congress of Women
by Maj. Damien Pickart
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
1/12/2009 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- Manas Air Base Airmen hosted 24 members of the Kyrgyz Congress of Women for a Jan. 8 tour and luncheon here.
The group, composed of female Kyrgyz civic and business leaders, met Manas AB leaders, learned about the base's mission and observed the contributions of female coalition members.
For most of the guests, the visit was their first time at the coalition base and it served to alter many long-standing beliefs and perceptions.
"Before coming here, I saw Manas as kind of a cold place where nothing touched my heart," said Kuluipa Juzumalieva, the chairperson of the management board for the group. "Now, after coming here and listening to the mission presentation and meeting the Airmen and seeing what you do, I realize how helpful you are in Kyrgyzstan."
As with several other groups hosted by Manas Air Base Airmen over the past few months, the visit was yet another chance for the base to get to know its Kyrgyz neighbors and take the mystery out of what goes on behind the gates of Manas AB by opening them up.
"There is a lot of curiosity and mystique to Manas," said Col. Christopher Bence, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander."There are a lot of folks who grew up here when it was a Soviet Union Republic and they learned things about Americans that are not accurate. These visits help us to tell the right story; that American's are here to help. That's very important."
Shortly after arriving, the women received a mission brief that also touched on the community outreach efforts of Manas AB Airmen and its nonprofit volunteer organizations: the Manas AB Outreach Society and the Manas Service Organization. They learned how over the past eight years, the Manas AB Outreach Society and the Village Partnership program now known as the Manas Service Organization, have provided hundreds of thousands of hours of volunteer time and more than $100,000 in supplies and monetary donations to help improve the lives of their Kyrgyz neighbors.
"I didn't realize the base did so much to help in the local communities," said Zamira Akbagysheva, the president of the Congress of Women. "It's wonderful how selfless the Airmen are in assisting those less fortunate."
During lunch, the Kyrgyz women dined with female Airmen of various ranks and job specialities and talked about the opportunities both had in their respective careers. The visit included a walking tour of the medical clinic, fitness center and wrapped up with a tour of one of the wing's KC-135 Stratotankers.
Throughout the tour, many friendships blossomed over song, dance and food. When one of the women pulled out an accordion and sang a song of friendship, Colonel Bence asked one of the guests to dance, which evoked laughter and applause from the Kyrgyz ladies and Airmen in the crowd.
"We all had a wonderful time getting to know one another," said Maj. Wah Sze, a doctor in the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group. "Today's visit gave us all a chance to learn about the accomplishment of women in both our countries and build friendships."
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