A RAY OF LIGHT IN THE PHUKET SUNSHINE VILLAGE
Twenty Sailors volunteered at the Phuket Sunshine Village, a facility that supports underprivileged children in Phuket province. They taught English lessons and joined the children in recreational activities.
“The community relations project’s goal is to build partnerships between the US government and the US military with local populations in foreign countries,” said Cmdr. Andrew Brod, a chaplain aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (CVN 77). “It’s important for us that when we show we’re good ambassadors for our country, that allows us and partner nations to have goodwill with one another.”
The facility was established in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as an initiative by the Lions Club of Phuket Andaman Sea, an English-speaking non-profit service organization, and Child Watch Phuket, a non-governmental organization in Thailand.
The establishment was opened on June 29, 2007, with support from global donors and the French Red Cross.
Villaiwan Dienel, the founder of the program, said she was delighted by the visit and hopes it gives them inspiration for their future careers.
“We are very proud,” said Dienel. “I think we can fulfill our goals to support these kinds of children. Then we can have a good house for them, good home, good food, good education and we establish a long-term plan for them.”
Although many of the children come from difficult backgrounds, they laughed and smiled throughout the day. Sailors played games with them, including soccer and relay racing.
“The children are special to a lot of our Sailors because I think a lot of the Sailors see themselves in the kids,” said Brod, “A lot of the Sailors here had somebody or some organization help them growing up. They view it as a chance to give back and to be something that benefits somebody else. I think we’ve accomplished that here.”
The shared time was an opportunity to learn and connect across cultures.
“I have two kids back in Houston[\[OBMUC1\]](#_msocom_1), every kid that I see, I see my kids face,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Juan Jose Astudillo, one of the volunteers. “It’s food for the soul.”
Despite the length of time spent at sea, the Sailors of GHWBCSG are committed to giving back to the communities that host them and serving those in distant lands.
GHWBCSG is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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