Some Kyrgyz children stricken with cancer now have a new, safer place to play -- thanks to a group of concerned Airmen deployed to this base.

The Airmen, volunteer members of the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, find ways to help the people of this country.

Most recently, the group donated clothing, toys, coloring books, six soccer balls and a new play fort to the children’s cancer ward of a hospital in Bishkek, the country’s capital.

“The old play area was broken and rotting and too dangerous for the children to climb on,” said Staff Sgt. Ann Mitchell.

The sergeant, from the 376th Expeditionary Services Squadron, was the lead coordinator for support to the cancer center. She had never seen or imagined a hospital in worse condition.

The group has helped local people and organizations for almost as long as the Manas has existed. It was chartered as a true volunteer nonprofit organization in December 2003.

To society helps several orphanages, hospitals and other humanitarian organizations through the efforts of volunteer Airmen -- many who spend their own money and use precious off-duty time to help.

In addition, the organization has to virtually reform itself each time a new rotation of Airmen arrives. To date, the group has supported more than 30 local organizations, donated more than $55,000 and untold hours -- just to help the people of this impoverished former-Soviet republic.

Even some of the hospital’s doctors, like Dr. Damira Bayzakova, volunteer all their time at the ward -- without pay. The doctor is the main liaison for the Airmen volunteers.

Poverty is rampant throughout the region, with the only possible exception being China. More than 40 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s population lives in poverty and 18 percent are unemployed, according to the CIA World Fact Book.

The South Dakota-sized country has been struggling economically and politically since it became independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The hospital, though, looks hardly changed since the 1950’s.

Dim light bulbs cast an uneven glow on plaster walls painted a melancholy shade of pastel green or off-white. Along one wall, children’s colored pictures of Disney like characters break up the monotony. But for the most part there are only long stretches of emptiness.

Underfoot, dark slate tiles cover the floors in some hallways. While others simply have a thin sheets of linoleum with large holes through which the wood underneath shows.

As the Airmen walked through the double swinging doors that marked the entrance to the children’s hallway, they heard the sound of crying children.

The Airmen broke into groups and went from room to room -- passing out toys and coloring books.

Inside the first room a toddler lay in a large bed -- crying as a staff member massaged his legs. The little boy shared the room with children of varying ages. Some wore simple cloth masks to provide meager protection from germs or viruses that might attack and overwhelm their weakened immune systems.

Only two Airmen had been to the hospital before.

When Staff Sgt. Sarah Marsh of the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron entered her first room, she quickly retreated to the hallway.

“It’s just so sad,” Sergeant Marsh said.

With two kids of her own, ages nine and five, the sight was just too much, she said. But she had wanted to be there to help.

“We just take what we have (in the U.S.) for granted,” she said.

After wiping away tears, she regained her composure returned and returned to the room a few minutes later.

Master Sgt. Jesse Hamblen, from the same squadron, donated soccer balls. He is a youth soccer coach in Livermore, Calif., and his club donated the balls. He said helping with the outreach was just something he had wanted to do since arriving.

“My ultimate goal is to see these kids smile,” he said.

As they continued the visit, smiles did appear on the faces of most of the kids.

The language barrier isn’t really a problem when it comes to playing with the children and showing them you care, Sergeant Mitchell said.

“They’re just like any kid when it comes to getting toys,” she said.

After the brief visit, the group gave more donations to the hospital staff. Then they went outside to work on the playground.

The first task was to dig holes to anchor the two large wooden structures which would form the basis of the fort. Digging in the rocky ground proved to be a hard task and it took longer than any other part of the project.

By the time they were done, the post-hole digger tool was history. It would have to be replaced after its encounter with the Kyrgyz soil.

By the end of the day, the Airmen finished most of the project, although they still needed to return to attach the slides and paint the structure.

Raya, an outgoing 7-year-old little girl and patient, watched the construction. She asked if the Airmen could paint the play fort yellow and red.

“So that it will be like the Kyrgyzstan flag?” 376th Air Expeditionary Wing interpreter Maya Melnikovskaya -- who is from Kyrgyzstan -- asked the little girl.

“Nyet (no),” Raya answered. “I just like those colors!”

Other children watched curiously as the group went about their tasks. Sometimes they asked to have their picture taken with the Americans.

The team was still upbeat as they finished for the day and piled the tools, both broken and otherwise, into the van and headed back to the base. Every Airman planned to return.

“It was cool,” said Sergeant Marsh, who -- despite her initial strong emotions -- was inspired by the trip.

Back at Manas, she said, “I had my day off permanently changed to coincide with future trips.”