U.S., Malaysian Airmen team up to build brighter future for orphans

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Matt Summers
  • Cope Taufan 12 Public Affairs
KULIM, Malaysia --  More than 50 U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force members teamed up for a humanitarian construction project at a Malaysian orphanage here as part of exercise Cope Taufan 2012 on April 8.

The combined team spent nearly five hours mixing and pouring concrete for a multi-use sports court at Pertubuhan Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit orphanage, a one-of-a-kind facility in northwestern Malaysia. Chartered by the government in 1994, the orphanage currently houses 50 children ranging in age from 10 to 17 years old. The children are orphans of former Malaysian armed forces members.

HJ Abdullah Bin Ahmad, chairman of the orphanage for the past 12 years, said this is the first time members of the armed forces have undertaken a project at the facility.

"This is a super joint-venture -- we're very grateful for this community relations event," he said. "The children are very delighted about this event as well."

The orphanage provides lodging, food, medical and educational fees for the children. Among its stated goals are to provide children a better future, help them become independent and help them achieve their dreams.

Royal Malaysian Air Force 1st Lt. Zulhusni Roslan, 310 Squadron, said he felt a responsibility to join the community relations event.

"I think it's our social responsibility to help make the orphans happy and this is our contribution," he said. "Also, it's good to work together and get to know each other better."
Senior Airman Shawn Flowers, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support flight from Kadena Air Base, Japan, agrees.

"It's a chance to help someone less fortunate by helping build something they can play together on," he said. "It's also a chance to experience a different culture and meet new people."

The combined team plans to visit the orphanage a final time to dedicate the court, which can be used for volleyball, badminton or sepak takraw (a traditional Malaysian game), and to provide gifts to the children. The 67th Fighter Squadron and 67th AMU will also donate a water filtration system to the orphanage.

Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4 through 13.