Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) volunteered at the Saint Elizabeth Orphanage for Girls, during a port visit to Victoria, Seychelles, March 4.
Sailors refurbished a playground and spent time playing games with children, helping foster a good relationship between the U.S. Navy and the local community.
“It was extremely rewarding to meet and interact with many of the orphans, especially one young girl who I really enjoyed being able to spend time with,” said Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Jessica Henry . “Overall it was a great experience that I will never forget.”
Forgoing a day spent out on the town at one of Seychelles’ markets, beaches or restaurants, Yeoman 2nd Class Robert Raynor chose to volunteer at the orphanage in order to represent the Navy giving back to the community.
“Their smiling faces when they saw the playground completely rebuilt and their rooms cleaned was by far the best part of my port visit to Seychelles,” Raynor said. “It was a great experience helping rebuild the playground and also being able to spend time with the kids at the orphanage.”
In addition to the playground, Sailors also cleaned the rooms of the orphanage and helped organize toys and supplies for the children.
Halsey is the flagship for Combined Task Force 151, a multinational, mission-based task force working under Combined Maritime Forces, to conduct counter-piracy operations on Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , March 07, 2012;