promoting the value of reservists

A-CR-007-000/ag-003 Alliance PROMOTING THE VALUE OF RESERVISTS
By PO1 PAUL LEBLANC
Op KOBOLD / TF Pristina
This is the story of the generosity of a
group of individuals from the Nova Scotia
communities of Tatamagouche, New
Glasgow and Truro who helped me
bring a little comfort and joy to some
children in Kosovo. This was not a huge
project, but kindness is not measured by
money or size. In this case, it was measured
by knitting needles. These individuals
took a little time out of their lives to
make slippers for children.
Before I start my story, I would like
to give you a brief overview of where I
am.
I am currently serving with NATO in
Pristina, Kosovo. There are five Canadian
Forces members here deployed under
Operation KOBOLD at Camp Film
City as part of Kosovo Force (KFOR).
Our duties revolve around mentoring the
Kosovo Security Force (KSF).
Following a period of intermittent
war in the former Yugoslavia during the
1990s, the Balkan region has seen extreme
political, economic and social
changes. Kosovo, which has long had
inter-ethnic violence, declared independence
from Serbia February 17, 2008.
Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo as
a nascent nation has led to tension.
Like any other newly independent
state, Kosovo must grow out of its infancy.
While this growing occurs, the
people of the country continue to endure
hard times.
Upon my arrival in Pristina, Kosovo,
December 3, 2011, my predecessor introduced
me to Nina. Nina runs the
Women’s and Children’s Wellness Centre
here in Pristina and, along with five
other volunteers, looks after 49 children
ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old.
Almost all the children are orphans.
www.cflc.forces.gc.ca
Knitting for Kosovo
Nina and the five volunteers have no
funding for the centre and rely on donations.
All donations come from good
people here at Camp Film City: the
Americans pay for the centre’s heat, the
Germans look after supplying some food
and electricity and we Canadians do
whatever we can to help at the centre.
Major Chantale Brais and I try to
visit the centre at least once a week, so
we are normally the contacts for activities
KFOR personnel put on for the children.
This past Christmas, the dining
facility at Film City had an ‘angel tree’
— a Christmas tree decorated with angels
labelled with the children’s names
— to ensure that all the children at the
centre got a new winter coat. The angels
disappeared fast and on Christmas Eve
2011, the Canadians, along with the
Americans, Germans and other nations,
delivered the gifts to the centre. With the
Canadians taking the lead on the set up
for the arrival of Santa Claus (my starring
role), the children had a Christmas
to remember.
While I was enjoying myself playing
Santa Claus that day, I took a look
around, and even though I saw the bright
smiles on the children, I could not help
but notice that they were all barefoot.
The building is made of cement and almost
unheated, as the centre has no
regular income.
The NATO military personnel and
the children enjoyed the rest of the day
with singing and traditional dancing. But
it bothered me deeply to see children
without slippers to put on their little feet.
Knowing that Nova Scotians love to
knit, I contacted my home unit, 1st Battalion,
The Nova Scotia Highlanders
(North) in Truro, with the idea to find
someone who could knit me 75 pairs of
slippers that I would pay for.
I received an email from my unit that
they, in fact, did find some ladies who
could knit the slippers, as well as some
hats, mittens and scarves for the children,
and that they would be sent over as
soon as possible at no cost for the items.
I have received the first shipment of slippers
and have delivered them to the centre
where we (Canadians as a whole)
could not get enough thanks from Nina
and the children.
Also, while I was talking to my unit,
I mentioned our plan to try and convert
one side of the centre into a daycare in
the spring so that they can be more selfsufficient.
The project is on track to
start, with the Americans providing most
of the funding, and the Canadians,
through the generosity of Boomer’s
Trust Fund, will also be able to provide
some funding.
Boomer’s Trust is the operating arm
of Boomer’s Legacy, the charity created
by Maureen Eykelenboom after her son,
Cpl Andrew ‘Boomer’ Eykelenboom,
was killed in Afghanistan. It is an entirely
civilian organization that raises
money through events such as an annual
bike ride and gala. The bike ride originated
in Victoria and Comox, B.C. and
has now spread to Edmonton, Ottawa
and Halifax.
The money goes to deployed CF task
forces to use in charitable activities for
families – especially mothers and children
– in their area of responsibility. My
predecessor, Warrant Officer Dan Flynn,
works with the organization in British
Columbia, and as Maureen is a friend, he
requested funds to help with the Centre.
In May 2011, Roto 4 of Operation
KOBOLD delivered 3,500 Euros to the
Centre from Boomer’s Trust, leaving
some money with Roto 5 for future projects.
These funds will aid in the construction
and repair of the playground
area for the children.
Alliance 2.2012 | 18