Servicemembers spend special time with orphans

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • CJTF-HOA Public Affairs
DJIBOUTI (AFPN) --  Airmen assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, along with fellow servicemembers and coalition forces, are known for supporting projects that include military-to-military training, civil military operations and senior leader engagements.

Missions are also in place to protect coalition interests, promote regional stability and prevent conflict and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism.

What they may not be known for is how they are winning hearts and minds in Djibouti  through a large number of community outreach and volunteer opportunities.

These opportunities include English discussion groups and visiting orphanages in Djibouti. 

Three days a week servicemembers are given the opportunity to assist French nuns at the Djibouti baby orphanage, to help care for more than 60 babies and toddlers. The nuns generally have volunteers feed the children during their visits, which can last up to three hours.

One of those servicemembers is Maj. Lanny Greenbaum, the CJTF-HOA information management officer, who is deployed from the Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.

"For a period of time, I am allowed the luxury of forgetting about myself, about being deployed to Africa, about being 7,000 long miles away from my family, my home, my wife and my daughter," said Major Greenbaum. "In the simple act of feeding a bottle to a baby, my heart fills with love for the children and reminds me of my family waiting for me in America."

Major Greenbaum does his best to visit the orphanage every week, he said, but to assist in his absence, the Information Management Office is represented with the attendance of other Airmen. 

"Three other people from my section also go to the baby orphanage," Major Greenbaum said. "We try to have someone represent our section each time a baby orphanage trip is offered." 

"The major introduced me to the orphanage visits," said Staff Sgt. Francisco Hernandez, the Information Management Office Data Systems NCO in charge. "He is always busy during the week attending meetings, and dealing with management-level tasks, but he puts his busy schedule on pause when it is time to go to the orphanage. It is one day out of the week where the major's professional life stands still, so he can give his time to the kids." 

With each volunteer, there is a special reason for donating their off-duty time. Some miss their children and are looking to connect in some little way, while others may have wives expecting and looking for a way to prepare for fatherhood. For Major Greenbaum, it's not only a way to connect with his daughter, but it is also a way to give back after going through the adoption process. 

"My wife and I have a precious daughter who will turn three next month, while I am still deployed," he said. "My wife and I had the joy of traveling to China to make her part of our family. She is an absolute joy, and even though I am not home with my daughter, going to the orphanage helps fill the void. Personnally, the trip is the highlight of my week.

It is a chance for me to give back to those truly in need, to impact the life of a child who doesn't have a monny and daddy," he said. "Our part, however limited, does make a difference."

The Camp Lemonier Ministry Support Team coordinates the trips to the baby orphanage each week. 

"Sometimes the sadness of seeing those children is just too much for people, yet for the major, he simply shows the children there is someone who cares for them," said Navy Religious Programs Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Wood, the Camp Lemonier Ministry Support Team leading chaplain's assistant. "I am both honored and grateful that I have had the privilege to have worked with so many volunteers like Major Greenbaum."

While visiting the orphanage is a volunteer opportunity, it's still helping to support in the CJTF-HOA mission.

"We are providing much needed assistance to the women who work at the orphanage and also providing attention and comfort to the children, which helps them to grow accustomed to new people, in turn, helping to make them more desirable to prospective adoptive parents," said Petty Officer Wood. 

The orphanages along with the English discussion groups are the primary sources of outreach to the community. We strive to win the hearts and minds of the young who will eventually grow to be the leaders of tomorrow, he said.

"Through the actions of servicemembers like Major Greenbaum, we are striving to make a better and brighter future for the children of Djibouti. The country of Djibouti is growing so fast that these children can easily be forgotten, but our many caring and generous volunteers are ensuring that will never happen," Petty Officer Woods said.

The caretakers at my daughter's orphanage took exceptional care of her, and I see my efforts as a small way to make a difference for deserving children here in Djibouti, the major said.

"It gives the sisters a break and brings another human touch into the children's lives. For that short timeframe, the kids have someone to connect with, and it tugs at your heart when they latch on to you and don't want to let go. The hardest part is putting them down for the night and having to walk away," Major Greenbaum said.

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