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Nearly half of the ship's company of RFA Mounts Bay joined forces with staff from the British Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, for one of the toughest community projects undertaken by the vessel on her Caribbean deployment.
Hijos de Maria Sede Luis Carlos Galan school, based in Cartagena, needed a total makeover. The school caters for children who have been the victims of physical and sexual abuse, from pre-grade to fifth grade, with space to teach up to 270 children in shifts throughout the day.
During eight hours of hard graft the personnel:
- Overhauled all of the classrooms, hallways and outside areas;
- Repaired light fittings and installed strip lighting;
- Painted and rehung classroom doors;
- Installed new cisterns in the school toilets;
- Repaired air conditioning units;
- Replaced broken windows with polycarbonate, mosquito nets and privacy sheets;
- Painted the building.
Prior to the work being carried out, Commanding Officer of RFA Mounts Bay, Captain David Buck, presented a signed and framed photograph of the vessel to school Principal Marisol del Risco Duarte.
The school receives little in the way of funding and relies upon charitable work to keep the school constantly running.
"The school is focussed on providing care and education for children who have been the unfortunate victims of physical and sexual violence in this highly-deprived area of the city," said Capt Buck.
"Therefore, this has been a very worthy and noble project for the Mounts Bay and British Embassy staff volunteers, who can be rightly proud of their efforts and achievements."
At the end of a hot and busy day the school was totally transformed, with staff and pupils excited to get back to the business of teaching and learning.
Third Officer Euan Ramsay, Visit Liaison Officer for Cartagena, said: "It was a great experience; the children now have a school they can be proud of - Mounts Bay loves it when a plan comes together."
