CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti--One day, everyone will discover their power to make a difference.

The Community Assistance Volunteers organization here provides regular opportunities for deployed service members and civilians to make a difference through volunteering.

The main objective of the CAV is to perform community service like cleaning, painting, minor repairs and more to improve nearby communities.

"The CAV helps the communities here, not just because they are a volunteer organization, but because we are here to help Africans help themselves," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nichole Price, an air traffic controller and CAV president. "The members of the community that we help work alongside the volunteers to improve their communities."

The CAV recently sponsored a community project where more than 30 deployed military members from Camp Lemonier and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa volunteered to clean a local boys' orphanage grounds by removing several truckloads of trash in 120-degree heat.

The CAV committee organized this clean-up project during Ramadan holiday and didn't anticipate help from the community because of the rigid Muslim fasting practices of no food or water during daylight hours. Normally, the clean up projects are a joint effort, and this time was no different as several of the older boys helped clean up.

"No one has adopted the Boys' Orphanage, so the CAV helps maintain the orphanage grounds," said Petty Officer 1st Class James Callea, a Navy legalman and CAV vice president. "The Chief Petty Officer's Mess is planning to adopt the orphanage. Once they do, they will help provide for the needs and interact with the students from the orphanage home to more than 30 boys, ranging from ages six to 24 years old."

The Chiefs' Mess purchased a stove, and the CAV has purchased other items for the orphanage. Observing cultural sensitivities, the CAV is waiting until the end of Ramadan to bring the items to the boys.

The CAV committee believes that many people might not be unaware of the volunteer opportunities available through the CAV. The CAV has a committee, a committee chair, a president and vice president. They regularly send out an "All Hands" announcement looking for anyone willing to volunteer. There is no membership required or meetings to attend to participate in CAV community projects.

"We are an organization that is out there working with the community and that is open to everyone," said Price. "Maybe there is only one Saturday or Sunday that you have time to volunteer. We greatly appreciate the support the people at Camp Lemonier and
CJTF-HOA have given us because we have never been low on numbers for volunteers. It's very touching for people to give up their free time to help the community."

The CAV's community projects are not supported monetarily by other organizations. It depends on donations to continue helping the community.

"All of our money and resources come in the form of donations from people back home and from the camp," said Callea. "You'll see CAV members outside the NEX (Navy Exchange) about once a month to raise money in order to continue doing projects."

"We'll take any kind of donation, whether it's monetary or items, we'll never turn it down because if it isn't something we can use, we give it to the Chapel."

The CAV works hand-in-hand with the Chapel. With monetary donations and fund raisers, the CAV can purchase supplies and equipment. Items donated and not used by the CAV are given to the Chapel which in turn supports several villages in the area.

Although the CAV doesn't have a large project every month, it is constantly working within the community in small group with schools, villages and orphanages, said Callea. The CAV evaluates potential projects by conducting site visits and talking to
head-masters or person responsible to find out what needs the CAV can potentially fulfill.

"We were told of a need for fans at a local school," said Price. "We organized a small group to deliver three fans. When people make the CAV aware of a need in the community, we are definitely willing to help or come up with a possible volunteer event to help."

Most people are motivated to volunteer by the chance to make a difference by helping others.

"I like to do something worthwhile," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Littlepage, a Navy gunner's mate. "Helping to clean up trash helps make Djibouti a more beautiful place and shows the locals that we care."

"We might not see the difference we're making while we're deployed--or even 10 years from now," he continued. "Volunteering doesn't always provide instant gratification that you're going to see overnight. I believe I'm making a difference by picking up trash, and I want to be able to say I was a part of making Africa a better place."