Task Force members visit African orphanages

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Omar Villarreal
  • CJTF-HOA Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti, Africa (AFPN) --  Since 2003, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa servicemembers have visited local orphanages with the hopes of learning new cultures, establishing friendships and building better futures.

Currently, about 200 CJTF-HOA servicemembers visit three different orphanages each week volunteering an average of 600 hours.

U.S. Navy Religious Program Specialist Richard Stoneking, CJTF-HOA chaplain's office, and Lt. Cmdr. Angie Walker, CJTF-HOA meteorology and oceanography officer, lead visits which include going to orphanages for boys, girls and infants.

Commander Walker and Specialist Stoneking became involved with the program for different reasons, but both get the same satisfaction out of doing it.

"When you visit the orphanages you can see the joy in the eyes of every one of the children," Specialist Stoneking said. "It's the look in those eyes and the smiles on their faces that keep you coming back."

Mohammed, a Djiboutian native, has been a volunteer and father figure at the boys' orphanage since 1995. He said the young boys ask him daily if servicemembers are going to come and play with them.

"You Soldiers are our brothers. The children learn new things from you and enjoy your company," Mohammed said. "Soldiers who come here are our family."

It's not just the local community that enjoys the company during the weekly visits. Many servicemembers have families and small children of their own back home who they miss. Those individuals see the orphanage trips as a chance to get what some call a "baby fix."

Commander Walker said she enjoys visiting the orphanages because she misses her children and because of what she learns when she talks with the girls.

"Being away from your children can be hard for some servicemembers, she said.  "I miss my kids, but by going to an orphanage or women's shelter I am able to get what I can't during my deployment, a child's company."

Commander Walker said visiting the children allows her to teach them a bit of American culture while at the same time learning theirs, something she wouldn't have been able to do without the visits.

With CJTF-HOA's mission focused on conducting operations and training in order to assist host nations establish secure environments and regional stability, servicemembers here stay busy. But, because of the importance of making new friends, learning new cultures, and showing that everyone needs someone to talk with, no scheduled visit goes unmanned.

"These visits give us an opportunity to interact with the community and make a difference," Commander Walker said. "A difference is what we are here to make."