Senior Airman Ismael Ibanez constructs a birdhouse with an Afghan child at the bazaar school Nov. 13, 2010, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airman Ibanez is a client system journeyman assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Communications Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Chisholm)
Tech. Sgt. Michael Zigarelli plays with a group of Afghan children on a seesaw Nov. 13, 2010, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Sergeant Zigarelli is a patrolman with the International Security Assistance Force Military Police. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Chisholm)
Senior Airman Jonathan Armstrong gets stopped with the soccer ball by local Afghan children while playing a game at the bazaar school Nov. 13, 2010, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airman Armstrong is a vehicle operator and dispatcher assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chad Chisholm)
by Senior Airman Melissa B. White
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
11/19/2010 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- More than 15 Airmen from here spent the morning with about 45 local Afghan children at the Kandahar Airfield Bazaar School Nov. 13.
Every Saturday, the bazaar school is opened to the children of local vendors who come to the base to sell goods at the bazaar, bringing anywhere from 30 to 90 students, ages 5 to 14, on a weekly basis.
"It was cool working with the kids and doing activities with them that they don't usually get to experience," said Airman 1st Class Cody Rios, a 451st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron force protection escort. "It was good getting to show compassion toward them so they don't see a bad image of other people being in their country."
The Airmen started their morning early by setting up the school and preparing for their creative activity: building 14 birdhouses with the students. Members of the 777th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron structural shop constructed the different pieces required for the project out of donated wood.
"I think it was an amazing success, and the children really seemed to love it," said Senior Airman Jesse Cornell, a 777th EPBS operations manager. "It kept their attention very well, and it was a great way to interact with them. It was a lot of fun."
The KAF Bazaar School volunteer coordinator, Amanda Chan, said she enjoyed the originality of the idea and how two of the birdhouses were able to be hung up at the school immediately.
"I think the birdhouses turned out great and I really like them," Ms. Chan said. "I'm glad we were able to hang two up here, so the children can see what they made and how the birds will use them. I'm hoping to get the rest to camp services to hang up around the base, so our military members can appreciate them too."
After the creative activity, the Airmen helped get the students ready for their lessons.
For an hour, a local Afghan man comes to the school to teach them. The older boys go in one room to learn English, while the younger ones are in a different room doing their Arabic class work.
After class, the Airmen helped the children implement healthy hygiene habits before eating their lunch. After lunch, the children play sports with the Afghans, which typically ends up being a soccer challenge.
"Soccer is their life. I have yet to hear about a unit beating them," said Ms. Chan, who has been here for years and the volunteer coordinator for more than a month. "It's nice to have the Americans out here with them because they are so family oriented. I've never seen them laugh and smile around the base as much as they do here with the children."
Once noon rolls around, though, the games must end and it's time for cleanup so the children can go meet their fathers back at the bazaar.
"Without these volunteers, this wouldn't be possible," Ms. Chan said. "I'm so glad their unit let them come out to do this, and I'm very grateful for the help."
The KAF Bazaar School was first implemented a couple of years ago. The school survives off of volunteers and donations ranging from pencils and paper to entire buildings.
Each week, NATO forces take turns between units to spend Saturday mornings at the school with the Afghan children.
Comments
11/22/2010 9:11:27 AM ET This is great. It shows that we are not just over there killing but helping out, including helping their children with understanding why there is another country's military in their towns.
