Reserve, active duty couple complete African service projects

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ashley Conner
  • 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) --  For Maj. Jonathan Gration, an active-duty pilot assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, and Capt. Julie Gration, a Reservist assigned to the 477th Fighter Group here, the trip wasn't so usual, took them across the world and gave them an opportunity to give back to those who are less fortunate.

"Jonathan had been talking about going back to Africa since I met him," Captain Gration said. "His family had taken a trip to Africa in 2005, but he couldn't go because he was in F-22 upgrade training."

Both sets of Major Grations' grandparents were missionaries in Africa and Major Gration lived in Kenya as a child while his father served as an Air Force instructor pilot and weapons officer with the Kenya Air Force.

"Based on a series of events, and with the support of our leadership, we were provided with a long enough window of opportunity to spend a month in Africa," Captain Gration said.

Thus began the planning and coordination with the Darfur Peace and Development Organization, a non-governmental organization established to assist Darfurians rebuild their country.

DPDO has several ongoing programs to assist the rebuilding effort to include the Gration's service project of choice, the Solar Cooker Program.

"In Darfur, the women living in internally displaced persons camps are responsible for cooking and collecting firewood," Major Gration said. "The women must travel outside of the camps where they are at a high risk of attacks and sexual abuse."

The solar cookers are made of silver metallic cardboard that converts the sun's rays into heat which is reflected to a metal pot. A polypropylene bag is secured around the pot, which creates an insulating barrier of air, allowing the temperature to reach 250 degrees.

"The solar cookers cut the requirement for firewood by two-thirds," said Major Gration. "It keeps the women from having to search for firewood and endangering their lives. It also preserves Darfur's precious trees. Sudan currently ranks fourth in the world for deforestation."

After raising $3,700, largely through the support of the 3rd Operations and 477th Fighter Groups, they purchased 125 solar cookers. In July, Major Gration traveled to Sudan where his father, Scott Gration, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, presented the solar cookers to women living in the Abu Shouk camp.

"The women of the camp came out to celebrate getting their solar cookers," said Major Gration. "Their outpouring of gratitude was amazing."

Four days later, Major Gration met his wife in Nakuru, Kenya to begin work at Hope for Life, an orphanage for children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

The couple, along with Major Gration's mother, Judy, began renovations on a large classroom at the orphanage using paint and supplies they purchased and brought from the U.S.

Mornings were spent painting and preparing the classroom. After a homemade, African lunch, the Grations would spend time playing with the children of the orphanage.

"This was an experience of a lifetime," Captain Gration said. "There are so many things you read and see on television, but to be immersed in the culture adds a whole other dimension."
Prior to returning to Alaska, the Grations visited Kibera, Nairobi, where the second largest slum in Africa is located.

"There are 1.5 million people living in two square miles," Major Gration said. "In Kibera, about 1,300 people have to share a single toilet.

"The timing of the visit (the last day in Kenya) and the deplorable conditions made this one of my most vivid memories," Captain Gration said.

The Grations said they came away from this trip with a renewed spirit of thankfulness.

"We definitely feel fortunate," the major said. "All across the world there are people who do not even have the basic necessities: food, shelter or potable water.  It makes you reevaluate and wonder what you can do to continue to help, even if it is only in a small way.  I think it makes an impact."