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Airmen interact with Afghan children

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  More than 15 Airmen from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, spent the morning with about 45 local Afghan children at the KAF Bazaar School Nov. 13.

Every Saturday, the bazaar school is opened to children of the local vendors who come to the base to sell goods at the bazaar, bringing anywhere from 30 to 90 students on a weekly basis ranging from ages 5 to 14.

"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, 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, 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," said Ms. Chan, who is a contractor here from Petawawa, Ontario. "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, they 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," laughed Ms. Chan, who has been at KAF 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," said Ms. Chan. "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. They thrive and survive off volunteers and donations anywhere 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.