USS Nashville (LPD 13) sailors paired up with several Senegalese soldiers to begin refurbishing the Centoe Mecico Social medical clinic in Dakar, Senegal, during a community relations (COMREL) project, February 5, 2009.

Ten Nashville sailors took part in the project, an opportunity provided by the ship's participation in Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville.

The group arrived at the clinic mid-morning and immediately began prepping the walls for paint by scraping away and smoothing over old cracked paint.

"There is something universal about hard work," said Nashville Chaplain Lieutenant Darin Dunham. "Talking wasn't really necessary today. Just like our guys, the Senegalese saw the paint and jumped right in. As the day progressed you could see the two separate groups mingle more and more."

In addition to repainting the clinic's walls, crew members of APS will replace broken doors assist with plumbing and mortar work.

"Working hand-in-hand with each other is good," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Santos Oyoque. "Even though there was a language barrier, we were still able to accomplish the job we were tasked with."

By then end of the day, both U.S. and Senegalese service members were grateful for new friendships and the opportunity to help others. "The more you are exposed to the world, the more you realize that we all have the same basic needs, wants and desires, and that friendship is a universal quality," Dunham said.

Nashville is currently deployed in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS), an
international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security on the African continent. Nashville is focused on supporting the APS strategy in West and Central Africa.