Students at the Ecole Douda School in Djibouti will now be able to enjoy lunch in the shade thanks to a new cantina provided by U.S. Navy Seabees at Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, January 6, 2010.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 homeported in Port Hueneme, California took the project from NMCB 11 in August and expect to complete the cantina by January 15.

"Right now our team is finishing the roof, sanding down the plaster and painting the facility," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Lord, site supervisor. "In a few days this unit will be used by the local school children, giving them a more comfortable and sanitary place to sit and eat."

Petty Officer 3rd Class Delacy Gant thinks projects like these are an essential part of CJTF-HOA's vision to build friendships and enable African solutions to African challenges.

"This cafeteria facility will do a lot for the local community," said Gant. "It helps show the local Djiboutians that we're here to help and that we intend on continuing to build a good relationship with them."

As the project comes to a close, Lord feels a sense of accomplishment and pride in the work the Seabees have done.

"It feels good," said Lord. "This was my first big project here and it makes me happy to know that I can use my skills to better the life of these people in this community."

With NMCB 3's deployment coming to an end in February, Gant is glad she got to work on one more humanitarian project.

"When you look at this project you have to feel good about what your team has done," said Gant. "This is a great way to end a deployment."

NMCB 3 is currently renovating an Elementary school in Comoros and expanding a perimeter fence in Kenya.