Photo By Grady Fontana | OLONGAPO, Philippines-Volunteer members of the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS...... read more read more
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By Paul Manning
USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10)
OLONGAPO, Philippines-Volunteers from the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) visited the children of the Association for Differently Abled Persons (ADAP) during a recent stop here, March 16.
The ADAP is a center that supplements the learning and assimilation of children who are deaf and hearing impaired as well as facing orthopedic and developmental challenges before they mainstream into a regular school system.
Currently the center has 42 students enrolled, ranging in age from 4 to 28, and is staffed by 15 volunteers comprised of parents and teachers.
The Director of ADAP, Dr. Emilia Sanchez, stated that the "goal is make them independent.” Sanchez has been teaching since 1987 and founded ADAP in 1996.
The Drew volunteers collected donations and purchased rice, learning games, shoes and candy for the children, which were given out during the visit.
The volunteers from the Drew were treated to performances by the students, integrating American Sign Language (ASL) and interpretative dance to include the dance “Macarena.”
Afterwards the Drew volunteers ate lunch with the students and then gathered into small groups and got to know the students better.
The main means of communication was pencil and paper, but there were also quite a few impromptu ASL lessons being given to the Drew volunteers, which were all well received.
Jong Cortez, City Councilman of Olongapo, was also in attendance and stated, “the visit from the Charles Drew volunteers carried a message of hope, understanding...and what you are giving is humanity.”
Third Officer Patricia Evenson, Drew's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer, presented Cortez and Sanchez with a signed picture of the USNS Charles Drew and ship hats.
The Charles Drew is currently assigned to the 7th fleet area of responsibility.
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2016 21:02 |
| Story ID: | 192768 |
| Location: | OLONGAPO, PH |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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