U.S. Sailors assigned to George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group give back to the Phuket community
GHWBCSG arrived in Phuket, Thailand Oct. 4, for a scheduled port visit.
Approximately 10 Sailors spent time teaching English to local children at the Good Shepherd Center for Women and Children. Since 2010, the center's mission has been providing a safe place for those at risk of being trafficked or preyed upon by dishonest employers.
A volunteer with Good Shepherd Phuket Town, known as Ms. Baff, helped organize the event and activities the Sailors would be able to participate in while visiting the children.
“This project [Good Shepherd], specifically here in Phuket, focuses on supporting migrant children,” said Ms. Baff. “They provide education, support the healthcare of the migrant community and help train children and women in life skills.”
A Chaplain, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), coordinated with Good Shepherd Center for Women and Children to give this opportunity to Sailors to leave an impact with the community.
“Events like this are important for us when we go into a port,” said Cdr. Andrew Brod, Geroge H.W. Bush chaplain. “We take some of our resources and our love, our care, compassion, and abilities and show the local community that we care about them and want to do good things in the world.”
Sailors spent the morning teaching residents English and playing games with them. One Sailor said he was happy to connect with a child with a different language and culture.
“I really wanted to find something to do in port that involved interacting with the community,” said one Sailor assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5). “Being able to help boost the kids' confidence and interact with them just feels rewarding.”
Another Sailor had similar feelings about the volunteer event and the activities they participated in.
“I wanted to give back and use my time here to do something meaningful,” said one Sailor assigned to GHWB. “I’m happy to have gotten the chance to integrate myself into the community a little bit and see the culture first hand and hear their stories.”
Baff said the foundation always loves having volunteers and being able to introduce the children to people from around the world is a highlight at the school.
“A lot of these children may never get the chance to travel around the world,” Baff said. “Having volunteers like the Sailors here today is our way of bringing the world to them.”
This event was the first of three planned to bring Sailors and the people of Thailand together, reinforcing mutual goodwill.
George H.W. Bush 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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