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Operation Outreach makes a difference in Kabul

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. J. LaVoie
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
FORWARD OPERATING BASE OQAB, Afghanistan --  Afghan Air Force advisors assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing interact with Afghans every day, and during these exchanges, they often learn of people in the local community who need help supporting families and educating youths. A few members work to meet these needs through Operation Outreach, a charity facilitated by military members that once had locations throughout Afghanistan, but now only remains at Kabul due to the U.S. military drawdown in Afghanistan.

“I am a huge humanitarian supporter. I believe in taking care of those less fortunate,” said Master Sgt. Eddie Ybarra, 440th AEAS fixed wing advisor and Kabul Operation Outreach president. “There is something extremely gratifying about giving to those in need and knowing that you may have improved their life in some way.”

Operation Outreach Afghanistan was created to empower the Afghan people through humanitarian assistance. Now run by a small group of volunteers, Operation Outreach strives to make a positive impact on the local community and create a better environment for the people of Afghanistan. Over the last year they have distributed more than 20 thousand pounds of donations to multiple orphanages and charities.

Recently Operation Outreach worked with Le Pelican, a local school in an impoverished section of Kabul, to provide for local Afghans. The organization purchased $1,200 of school supplies and coordinated the delivery of more than 1,000 pounds of donated goods.

“The donations of Operation Outreach helped a great deal; they allowed the school to run smoothly with all the stationary, notebooks, pencils, crayons, and rulers,” said Ariane Hiriart, Le PELICAN founder and Senior Director. “[They] are used by the pupils of Le PELICAN every day … it helps a lot!”

More than 350 students attend Le Pelican, which houses literacy classes for young women and children, classes for hearing impaired children and vocational training. In addition to meeting the immediate needs of the students, according to Hiriart, the supplies continue to allow the school to function.

“The children [in] kindergarten in Bamiyan had great fun playing with the toys,” Hiriart said. “These poor children have never had a chance to have these kinds of toys. They just could not believe their own eyes. The poorest families … received blankets and quilts. These warm items will definitely make a great difference.”

Over the past year, Operation Outreach members have visited more than 100 hospitals, giving patients clothing and hygiene products. Volunteers also taught nearly 200 English classes to Afghan Air Force Airmen. After a suicide bus attack took the lives of 9 Afghan Air Force Airmen, the organization provided more than 1,000 pounds of donations to support 72 family members with clothing, school supplies, bedding, toys, hygiene products and heating fuel.