A group of Kenyan and U.S. sailors took part in a community relations project at the Foyer De Nazareth Children's Orphanage in Port Victoria, Seychelles, March 2, 2010.

The sailors, attached to the guided-missile frigate USS Nicholas (FFG 47), participated in the project during a four-day port visit in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East.

"These types of projects are so important for us to be involved in," said Petty Officer 1st Class (SW) Darryl Mcnamara, community relations (COMREL) coordinator. "APS is about building relationships and true friendships with the people of Africa and COMRELS help us achieve that goal."

The group spent the afternoon giving the orphanage a new look by painting the entire exterior of the main building facility, providing the 12 boys who live there with a brighter-looking home.

In addition to painting, the sailors met with a few of the caretakers who work at the orphanage. According to caretaker Veronique Lenclume, the day was a great success and it couldn't have been accomplished without the hard work from the service members.

"We are very happy that you volunteered your time to visit and help us today," said Lenclume. "We have wanted to repaint the building for a long time, but never seem to have enough hands around to get the job done, so thank you very much for what you've done."

APS East is an international cooperative initiative in support of Naval Forces Africa which aims to unite international partners to enhance maritime safety and security throughout the African continent.

APS East has been conducting missions along the east coast of Africa since 2008; however, APS East 2010 marks the first year that the mission includes an international staff of partnering-nations. A small group of staff officers from Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Tanzania, Brazil and the U.S., work together to plan and execute the APS East mission.

The high speed vessel Swift (HSV-2) and its 2010 APS East sister platform, the USS Nicholas (FFG 47), have visited ports in Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The ships bring teams of maritime experts from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to provide training and participate in exercises with their African counterparts. Combat lifesaving; damage control; law of war; visit, board, search and seizure; small boat operations/maintenance and physical security are just a few of the capabilities during in-port training.

In addition to the APS port visits, the Nicholas has conducted at-sea instruction with approximately 60 east African ship riders. The trainees spend their time not only learning basic watch-standing principles, leadership skills, damage control and engineering, but also building relationships with sailors from around the globe.

Swift and Nicholas are on regular scheduled deployments within the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. APS East is being conducted in cooperation with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

See related story on USS Nicholas at http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=4090&lang=0.