Marines, Sailors volunteer to improve home for HIV-positive Romanian teens

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry | Cpl. Dwight Rachuba, center, a communication systems repairer with 1st Tank Battalion, helps the residents of a home for HIV-positive teens and young adults rehang pictures after a civil affairs project at the home, May 20.  

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, ROMANIA

05.31.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania — The house at Number 12, Primaverii Street isn't particularly remarkable from the outside. Like many homes in the Romanian village of Mihail Kogalniceanu, the white paint is aging and chipping. Like many homes in Mihail Kogalniceanu, a small picket fence encircles a garden in the back where residents grow their own produce.

But unlike any other home in Mihail Kogalniceanu, the house at Number 12, Primaverii Street is a working farm aimed to provide teens and young adults who suffer from HIV and other diseases an opportunity to get back on their feet. The residents here learn to better provide for themselves by tending to the home's goats, chickens, ducks and pigs; but most importantly, they learn to be part of a family.

"When we first started in 1990, we didn't know if we could make it or not," said Dr. Rodica Matusa, the president of Asociata Speranta, or the Hope Association, a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the mission of providing a more normal life for HIV-positive children and young adults in Romania's Constanta county.

To do their part to help the mission of the Hope Association, Marines and Sailors currently deployed to Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield volunteered to help improve the home, May 18-20, by refurbishing the living spaces within the house.

"It gives us a chance to show that we're more than just rifles and marching," said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Depinet, an embarkation specialist with 1st Tank Battalion, which forms the core of the Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force deployed for Black Sea Rotational Force. "We get to show them we're people, and good people, too."

For the Marines and Sailors, the main task at the house was removing mold growing on several interior walls of the house. In many of the home's living areas, including the living room, dining room and bathroom, the Marines scraped to remove the mold, applied an anti-fungal treatment, respackled any damaged parts of the wall, and repainted for a pristine look.

"I thought it would take a lot longer, but they finished in basically two days," said Marinescu Florice, who said she is called "Mama Flori" by the teens and young adults at the house. "[The Marines] were very good and very nice, and I'm appreciative of all of the Marines' work."

"I think we've done a good job here," said Depinet, a native of Flagstaff, Ariz. "We've really put some effort into working here, and it shows."

But sweat and sore muscles weren't the Marines and Sailors only contributions to improving the house. Navy Lt. Russell Hale, the command chaplain for Black Sea Rotational Force, said the troops also had the opportunity to serve as role models for the house's residents.

"Predominately, these Marines are the same age as the residents here," said Hale, who served as the lead officer on the project. "It demonstrates to them that there are other young people around the world who have compassion for their plight."

But, Hale added, like so many missions the Marines and Sailors will accomplish during their time as the Black Sea Rotational Force, refurbishing the house was a partnership – and the troops stood to learn as much as they taught.

"The biggest thing they experienced was being able to demonstrate the 'No Better Friend' side of the uniform they wear," said Hale. "These Marines will never forget this."

"We want to thank you very much, we look at you as friends," said Matusa in an address to say goodbye to the Marines and Sailors. "We want to thank you – not only for helping with the house, but for helping our kids."

• Date Taken: 05.31.2010
• Date Posted: 05.31.2010 01:39
• Story ID: 50565
• Location: MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO