HMCS Vancouver lends a hand in Fiji

Over 60 volunteers from the ship’s company gather for a photo at the Homes for Hope campus, as they get ready to work on landscaping, renovation and painting projects at the Fiji charity.

Lt(N) Tony Wright, HMCS Vancouver ~

During HMCS Vancouver’s final port visit of Operation Projection Asia-Pacific, over 60 volunteers from the ship’s company dedicated a day to help a local charity, Homes of Hope, fix up and expand their facilities just outside of Suva, Fiji.

Homes of Hope is a Fiji-based charity working with young women and children who are victims of, or are vulnerable to, situations of forced sexual encounters, sexual exploitation, child abuse, and violence.

It’s through direct care at their residential campus and community programs that Homes of Hope gives surviving victims the freedom to step away from the destructive cycles of forced sex, providing a fresh start of hope, freedom, dignity, and life.

Volunteers from every department on the ship put their training to use, using their unique skill sets throughout the campus. Homes of Hope is working to expand the number of women and children who can stay at the residence, and also increase the size of their small farm.

Vancouver’s crew spent the day clearing jungle, installing fence posts, enlarging and updating facilities in one dormitory, and painting another.

“All of the work you’re doing here today is putting us ahead by at least two months,” said Mark Roche, Homes of Hope Director.

Petty Officer First Class Stephen Rownd organized this opportunity for the ship’s company.

“By providing personnel, equipment, and tools we were able to complete tasks they would normally not be able to complete on their own,” said PO1 Rownd. “We provided skilled trades-people that knew how to solve engineering issues at their facility.  Many of our crew were women, demonstrating to some of the residents that women are an equal part of the team.”

Vancouver has now completed its port visit to Fiji and is steaming for Hawaii and the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2018.