Sailors assigned to the guided-missile frigate USS De Wert (FFG 45) participated in a community service project at the Makongo Primary School in Dar Es Salaam, November 26, 2011.



During the project, sailors and students cleaned and painted the classrooms with assistance from the U.S. Embassy and Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training team.



“It was good to be able to make their school a little nicer,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Luiggi Baldo.



After the painting was complete, sailors and students played a friendly game of soccer and then spent time teaching each other words and phrases in their native languages.



“I’m glad that we got to play with the kids and make their school a little better,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Nathaniel Barnette.



The Makongo Primary School enrolls between 80 and 160 children per class and consists of seven classrooms with 28 teachers on staff. With 42% of Tanzania´s population under the age of 15, improving the school plays a key role in providing space for children to learn and develop the future leaders of the country.



“It has been beneficial for all of us to develop the friendship between the United States and Tanzania,” said De Wert’s Command Master Chief LaDon Washington. “Hopefully it will open more dialogue and friendships between our cultures and communities.”



De Wert is homeported in Mayport, Florida, and is on a scheduled seven-month deployment conducting maritime security operations under Standing NATO Maritime Group and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.