Marines, sailors clean up after-school center in Catania

Photo By Juan Wanda | U.S. Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, volunteered their time to clean up an after-school center in Catania, Italy, Sept. 11, 2015. at an Librino Talita Kum. The Marines and sailors spent the morning and afternoon at Librino Talita Kum cleaning windows, removing debris and overgrowth from a garden area and putting up panels in a play area to add an aesthetic appeal.  

CATANIA, ITALY

09.11.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

U.S. Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, volunteered their time to clean up an after-school center in Catania, Italy, Sept. 11, 2015. at an Librino Talita Kum

The Marines and sailors spent the morning and afternoon at Librino Talita Kum cleaning windows, removing debris and overgrowth from a garden area and putting up panels in a play area to add an aesthetic appeal.

In operation since 2006, the all-volunteer center provides a daycare program, after-school care and homework tutoring to the children of the area. There main focus is nurturing the desire for learning in the children and youth they support. This focus is truly capture in their published missions statement: “Education is a matter of the heart.”

“It was amazing to see the work of this charity,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Orodio, a corpsman with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “It is mind blowing that Mrs. Gianinoin is able to accomplish so much for the children, all free. Her and her staff are truly selfless in all they do. We are glad to help this place.”

The community service project, in part, was in response to President Barack Obama’s proclamation that acts of selflessness and charity be carried out to honor the victims who lost their lives 14 years ago.
In his proclamation, he said, “I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.”

“Today was a day when the Marines and sailors could not only honor the lives of those who were lost but also devote their time, performing unselfish acts which were truly the hallmark of all that followed on that day 14 years ago” said Navy Lt. Derrick Horne, the chaplain with SPMAGTF-CR-AF.

Giuliana Giainoin, the center’s director, said the center doesn’t have the funds to upkeep the center and has to rely on outside resources to keep the building and grounds in good condition.

“I am so happy the Marines and sailors are here today,” said Giainoin. “We love the partnership we have with them because they are able to do the work that we don’t have the extra money for. They are always smiling and asking us what they can do next or the next time they can come here. We are very, very grateful.”

Soon after the Marines and sailors began to work, a resident in a nearby apartment buildings watching, placed an American flag out on his balcony to display his support.

While SPMAGTF-CR-AF Det A is strategically positioned at NAS Sigonella to stage and prepare for theater security cooperation missions and crisis response in Africa, Marines and sailors continue to build on previous units’ efforts in Sicily to further solidify a strong partnership between the U.S. and its Italian friends.

(Story and photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bulloch, a religious programs specialist with SPMAGTF-CR-AF)

• Date Taken: 09.11.2015
• Date Posted: 09.18.2015 13:43
• Story ID: 176546
• Location: CATANIA, IT