FREETOWN, Sierra Leone-Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk completed a community relations project at the Freetown Christian Faith Rescue Orphanage Monday.
The Mohawk arrived in Freetown Saturday for a port visit after working with a Sierra Leone Law-Enforcement Detachment and vessels from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Maritime Wing for three weeks along the Sierra Leone coast and Exclusive Economic Zone assisting local officials in enforcing national laws and regulations as well as obtaining information on vessels and activities in Sierra Leone waters.
The crew built a new structure to enclose the orphanage’s cook fire, made plumbing improvements to the building and put up a tire swing to give the children something to play on. They also gave the children footballs, soccer balls and Frisbees.
“This crew never ceases to amaze me and this community relations project is just one more instance where they have exceeded my wildest expectations,” said Cmdr. Robert Hendrickson, commanding officer of the Mohawk. “The cooking shelter they erected at the Christian Faith Rescue Orphanage, along with the numerous other projects they completed there, is a great example of the Mohawk crew’s dedication to helping people in need.”
The Mohawk is a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Key West, Fla. The Mohawk’s current mission is to help partner nations in West Africa build law enforcement capacities in their region by working alongside them to help build the capacities and capabilities necessary to make their borders stronger and less porous from illegal contraband.
