Ganci airmen rebuild children's playground

7/2/2003 - GANCI AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN)  -- About 40 children from the nearby Kyrgyzstan Tuberculosis Research Institute are smiling more broadly since airmen from here completed a playground.

More than 68 airmen here put the finishing touches on the playground and dedicated it to the children June 30.

The initial idea for the project started in May, according to 1st Lt. Adam McAlpine, the project coordinator who is assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. The existing playground at the center was in total disrepair.

The previous (base humanitarian committee) worked on (the project) and handed it over to us when they left, said McAlpine. A lot of the coordination had already been done. The director of the center really liked the design; so we started the work.

All of the physical work on the playground took place in June, McAlpine said. About 15 people helped during each of the seven visits to the site.

The very first crew went out with a Bobcat (bulldozer) and ripped out everything, said McAlpine. They really leveled (the old playground) completely. Most of the old equipment was broken. It was an old, run-down playground.

Each trip saw more work complete, he said. By the time the final crew showed up June 30, all that was left to do was hang the swings and dedicate the project.

Before the children tried out the new equipment, they put on a 15-minute show including poetry and singing for the airmen.

The way (the playground) was before, the kids couldnt enjoy it at all, said Chief Master Sgt. Carlos Massiatte, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wings command chief. We had to remove everything. Now, where there was nothing, there is an opportunity for the kids to play and have fun. And thats what this is really about.

Staff Sgt. Michael McComb, a force protection specialist, said being around the children made him feel right at home.

I have two kids now, said McComb. I have a third baby due in two weeks. Seeing the kids helps out. It gives me a sense of being home.

Besides helping the children, rebuilding the playground also offered a chance for many base airmen to experience culture and traditions they might not have gotten to experience otherwise, Massiatte said. Although only 15 people got to visit the center each time, the chief said that a lot of behind-the-scenes people gave generous donations and worked hard to make the project happen."

The whole playground project cost about $2,000, according to McAlpine. All of the money came from donations from various base councils and coalition members.