Nu-Laran Primary School, Dili

1^st Grade Building; 2^nd Grade Building; 3^rd Grade Building; 4^th Grade Building; 5^th Grade Building; 6^th Grade Building; Auditorium; East Bathroom and septic tank; West Bathroom, septic tank, and leach field; Exterior wall repairs; Concrete work (sidewalks and slabs)

PROJECT SCOPE Replace roof and renovate 438 square meter auditorium, including pouring a new concrete floor slab and installing a new steel and concrete stage.  Renovate six classroom buildings, two restrooms, a kitchen area and a teachers’ lounge.  Renovations of the buildings include: replacement of corrugated roofing on two classroom buildings, installation of security grills on all windows, and rolling steel doors at all classrooms. The repair of all stucco walls and columns inside and out (including the masonry fence surrounding the complex), installation of new ceilings (the existing buildings had no ceilings); and the installation of light fixtures, switches and outlets in the library and staff buildings. Finally, prep, prime and paint all interior & exterior walls of all buildings and the masonry fence. Work on the grounds included Installation of new concrete sidewalks; replacement of the entire concrete entrance slab; repairs to exterior masonry fence and front steel gate; and the installation of two new septic systems and one new leach field.

The front of Nu-Laran school prior to construction

1st Grade building before

1st Grade building during construction

2nd Grade building before

2nd Grade building during construction

3rd Grade building before

3rd Grade building during construction

4th Grade building before

4th Grade building during construction

5th Grade building before

5th Grade building during construction

6th Grade building before

6th Grade building during construction

Exterior of Auditorium before

Exterior of Auditorium during construction

Interior of Auditorium before

Interior of Auditorium during construction

East Bathroom during construction

East Bathroom during construction

Kitchen area before

Kitchen area during construction

West bathroom before

West bathroom during construction

Typical washing station before

Typical wash station during construction

Typical classroom before

Typical classroom after

Typical classroom before

Typical classroom after

Septic tank hole in the beginning

Framing installed to pour the concrete septic tank

Septic tank after concrete pour

Digging the leach field for the septic system

The original scope of work had a private contractor completing both bathrooms and the Auditorium. The contractor failed to live up to his contract, and left the site– leaving the work to the Seabees and other partners. The entire project was planned to be completed, with a ribbon cutting, during the Mercy visit. However, with the additional work, the Seabees were pressed to complete all the work prior to the start of school in the fall.

PERSONNEL: 20 FLY-IN  Seabees; 10 SAIL-IN SEABEES; 17 HOST NATION Volunteers; 37 ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY ENGINEERS; 35 CIVILIAN AND MILITARY volunteers FROM THE MERCY

DURATION: 22 JUN – 21 SEPT 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED: 3,000 + (work was ongoing)

The Island of Ambon:

• Puskesmas Tulehu Public Health Clinic

This small isolated clinic is located about an hour outside the city of Ambon. Though the clinic was open, the building was in dire need of repair. The staff moved out of the building during the renovation, and aided the Seabees in cleaning and moving back in when completed.

PROJECT SCOPE: Install a new corrugated metal roof and ridge cap; replace the existing wood fascia; repair exterior soffit framing and replace damaged soffit. Replace all damaged ceiling panels; replace the existing front and rear doors with new solid wood doors and new locksets; replace two interior doors and install one new frame; replace 18 door lock sets on existing doors; remove five exterior doors and fill openings with masonry brick and stucco. Remove wood slats above new rear double door and fill with plywood; replace wood slats above all windows; create new slats above one closed-in door for ventilation; do minor electrical repairs and replace missing light bulbs. Prep and repair all interior and exterior stucco walls, then prime and paint the entire building inside and out. Remove dirt and debris from sidewalk around building and power-wash all concrete walks, including the main walk to the font of the clinic. Replace damaged tile floors throughout the clinic; pour a new concrete step at the rear of the clinic.

The front of the clinic before

The front of the building after

The side of the building before

The side of the building after (notice the brand-new roof!)

Picture showing the before and after side-by-side

This picture shows the concrete block used to fill-in doors that were removed

Reception area before

Reception area after (Senior Chief VanGorden wants you to notice the large stash of LDS Charity boxes filled with medical supplies that were given to the clinic during the ribbon-cutting ceremony–typical of ALL ENCAP projects!)

Central hallway before

Central hallway after

The Seabees pose in front of the newly renovated clinic

PERSONNEL: 11 SAIL-IN Seabees and 16 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; 8 Host Nation VOLUNTEERS; 15 Mercy  Volunteers

DURATION: 25 JUL 2010 – 30 JUL 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED: 125

• Tulehu Toilet Facility, Ambon

This small project was developed and begun by the local TNI engineers on the island. The Seabees were asked to aid in completing as much work as possible during their visit.

PROJECT SCOPE: Aid the Host Nation Engineers to build a new toilet facility. Mercy Seabees aided in the following work: run fresh water lines to toilets; run sewer lines from toilets; build a stone and concrete foundation, then stucco-covered brick walls; frame a wood roof and install corrugated metal roofing; install doors; and install squat toilets.

New toilet facility being worked on (the toilets drained out the back into the waterway, and down into the ocean)

Toilet facility almost completed

Typical Asian squat toilet, with faucet to fill bucket for flushing the toilet

PERSONNEL: 3 SAIL-IN Seabees and 2 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; 3 Host nation engineers

DURATION: 25 jul 2010 – 30 JUl 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED: 31

• Mamala Stage, Ambon

This project was part of a larger renovation of a local soccer field. The local TNI engineers on the island were building a stage at one end of the field. The Seabees were asked to aid in completing as much work as possible during their visit.

PROJECT SCOPE: Aid the Host Nation Engineers to build a new stage. The Seabees from Mercy aided in constructing concrete walls atop a poured concrete foundation in preparation for installing a new roof.

The new stage was being built near the local Soccer Stadium

The stage as the concrete beams were being installed to hold-up the roof

PERSONNEL: 2 SAIL-IN Seabees and 3 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; and 4 host nation engineers

DURATION: 27 JUL 2010 – 28 JUL 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED: 14

The City of Ambon Pier problem…

Not everything goes perfect on a mission as large and complex as this one. While delivering supplies from the USNS Mercy to the pier in Ambon, the helicopter being used caused some damage to a nearby warehouse.

The Mercy helocopter making a supply run to the pier

The roofing structure and roof of the building had not been secured to the surrounding masonry walls… When the helocopter landed, the ‘updraft’ from the spinning blades lifted the unattached roof right off the building! The Navy met with the owner of the building and came to an agreement very quickly… Fortunately the warehouse was completely empty at the time of the incident.

The Island of Ternate:

• Puskesmas Kalumpang Health Center

This large clinic is located in the city of Ternate and serves 7 regions. The clinic was closed at the time, due to the poor condition of the building. It has a staff of 50, and the nurses actually live in the vacated clinic (they were moved during renovation).

PROJECT SCOPE: Completely remodel the entire building. Remove the existing roof, repair all damaged roof and soffit substructure, and install new corrugated roofing. Install new fascia and soffits. Replace 10 exterior doors, and all rain-damaged ceilings. Place new concrete slab in patient waiting area, and build a new covered awning to give shade to patients. Install new wiring and all new fluorescent light fixtures, switches and outlets. Renovate the restroom, and the kitchen area.  Replace locksets on all interior and exterior doors.  Patch concrete floors and sidewalks. Powerwash and paint the interior and exterior of the entire structure, including the masonry fence.

Front of closed medical clinic before

Front of clinic after renovations

Front door before

Front door after

Side of building and wall before

Side of building and wall after

Interior of building before

Interior of building after

Rear of building after: showing new concrete pad and covered waiting area for patients

PERSONNEL: 12-23 FLY-IN Seabees; 3 SAIL-IN Seabees; 4 royal Australian army engineers; and 2 civilian Volunteers from the mercy

DURATION: 23 Jun 2010 – 22 Jul 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED: 431

• Sulamadaha Malaria Center

This small malaria clinic has been closed due to the poor condition of the building. The clinic serves North Ternate and a community of 16,000; and sees an average of 300 patients per month with a staff of 58 including doctors, nurses, and midwives.

PROJECT SCOPE: Remodel the malaria center that has been closed due to disrepair. Replace interior ceilings and exterior soffits; install new wood fascia; patch stucco walls, then prep and paint the entire building inside and out; replace the front gate to the clinic compound.

Front of clinic before

Front of clinic after

Interior room before

Interior room after

Sargent Burbury of the Australian Army Engineers with his crew and the clinic staff

PERSONNEL: 11 SAIL-IN Seabees and 5 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; and 1 Mercy  Volunteer

DURATION: 18 JUL 2010 – 21 JUL 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED: 33

The Island of Tobelo:

• Negeri 1 Middle School, Tobelo

A local public Middle School in need of repairs to several classrooms.

PROJECT SCOPE: Remodel two rooms in the Negeri 1 public middle school. Repair concrete floors by capping with concrete slurry; replace damaged ceiling panels; replace broken windows and repair existing window latches; prep and paint interior of classrooms, with separate color for windows and trim.

One room prior to ceiling and floor repairs

The Seabees prepping and cleaning the old concrete floor

Mixing-up the concrete slurry that will be used to repair the floor

Installing the concrete slurry to refinish the concrete floor

A typical room after the work was completed

PERSONNEL: 4 Seabees and 7 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; and 2 Mercy  Volunteers

DURATION: 13 JUL 2010 – 15 JUL 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED: 27

• Negeri 2 Middle School, Tobelo

A local public Middle School in need of repairs to several classrooms.

PROJECT SCOPE: Remodel five classrooms in the Negeri 2 middle school. Install new ceramic tile in two classrooms; construct a raised platform out of poured concrete in one classroom; prep and paint the interior of the five classrooms, painting the windows and trim a separate color. Replace damaged ceiling panels; repair existing window latches.

The wing of the Negeri 2 school that was remodeled

Typical room before

Typical room after

PERSONNEL: 9 Seabees’ 13 ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; 3 Mercy  Volunteers

DURATION: 14 JUL 2010 – 16 JUL 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED: 50

The USNS Mercy stayed in three ports while in Indonesia, but the crew traveled to many different islands, using the ship as a base of operations. Using small boats, helicopters, and Australian landing craft, the crew was able to disperse among the various islands (the Australian landing craft were needed for islands that had no docks for boats or airports or open fields for landing helicopters; these boats, like the landing craft used to ferry Marines ashore in WWII, could drive right up onto the beach to get the workers and supplies onto the isolated islands).

The Island of Morotai:

• Morotai General Hospital Patient Ward

This small hospital is located on the island of Morotai and serves a population of 18,000 residents. It is the primary medical facility for the residents of the island, and provides basic to moderate medical services. The staff consists of three Doctors and 40 Nurses, including Midwifes. The Hospital treats an average of 25 patients per day, 10-15 deliveries per month.

PROJECT SCOPE: The total renovation of existing clinic included the removal of the masonry capped finish on the floors and the installation of new ceramic tile throughout.  It also included the replacement of damaged sections of corrugated roofing, soffit, and ceilings.  A new concrete stoop at the entranceway was made, as well as other repairs to the concrete sidewalks. New electrical wiring, light fixtures, switches and outlets were installed, and four restrooms were cleaned and renovated.  The locksets on all interior and exterior doors were replaced. All interior and exterior masonry walls were repaired and resurfaced. Broken windows were repaired and insect screens were installed at all openings. The exterior was power washed and all interior and exterior walls were primed and painted. Finally, the existing roof was painted with a waterproof coating.

Side of patient ward before

Side of patient ward after

Front of patient ward before

Front of patient ward at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

Typical Asian ‘squat’ toilet before (each toilet would have a container of water and a scoop that was used to pour water down the toilet after use). Although not talked about often, toilets and cleanliness was a big problem working in the field in all of the countries we visited!

Typical toilet after renovation

Typical room before

Typical room after

Main hallway after renovation

PERSONNEL: 11 FLY-IN Seabees

DURATION: 01 JUL 2010 – 14 JUL 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED: 139

• Hun Sen Primary School

Provides shelter, education and support to displaced families and at risk children; it also trains teachers and provides transportation to and from schools

PROJECT SCOPE: Installed a 13’ x 15’ exterior canopy roof extension for the female dorm; painted exterior toilet, small kitchen, and dorms.

Area where roof is to be extended to cover entire space

After posts installed, before new metal roof extension

After new roof extension

PERSONNEL: 7 SAIL-IN Seabees and ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers; 15 Japanese volunteers from the Kunisaki; 15 civilian and military Volunteers from the mercy

DURATION: 20 JUN 2010 – 25 JUN 2010

MANDAYS EXPENDED:  61

• Ohtres Primary School and Pagoda

Provides education and support to evicted and displaced families and children

PROJECT SCOPE: Repaired playground equipment (slide, tire swings, teeter-totters), and installed a new volleyball net. Created a new library out of an old unused building: replaced a portion of the existing roof, replaced the door, and painted the inside and outside of the structure. In addition, new bookshelves were constructed for the library. Finally, the exterior of the two existing classroom buildings were painted.

Old building to be remodeled to become the new library for the school

Library building after work is completed

Typical bookshelves made for the new library

New volleyball net installed for the children

Slide before

Slide after repairs

Boxes of LDS Charities school supplies left at the school after work was completed (typical of all ENCAP sites)

PERSONNEL: 15 Seabees and royal Australian army engineers, 15 Japanese volunteers from the Kunisaki; and 15 CIVILIAN AND MILITARY Volunteers, FROM THE MERCY

DURATION: 21 Jun 2010 – 25 JUN 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED: 89

• Happy House Children’s Shelter

Provides shelter, education and support for orphaned children

PROJECT SCOPE: Demolished existing make-shift animal shelter and built a new shelter using chain-link fencing and covered with corrugated metal. Replaced roof on toilet with new corrugated metal roofing. Installed water supply lines from well to the toilets and also ran new water lines to the house. Repaired existing water catchment system; repaired two concrete stairs; repaired wood siding so water would no longer come in the building; painted interior of second floor and exterior front and back of building. Repaired rolling steel gate so that it would close properly.

The Seabees repair the wood siding prior to painting the exterior of the building

Typical missing step before

Typical missing step after repair work is completed

Animal shelter and bathrooms before

Fenced-in, covered, animal shelter and remodeled bathrooms after

Bathroom roof before

New bathroom roof

Seabee working on the damaged front gate

Rolling front gate after repairs

New water distribution lines were run to the bathrooms, the kitchen, and other areas

PERSONNEL: 12 Seabees and ROYAL Australian ARMY engineers from the Mercy; 15 Japanese volunteers from the Kunisaki; 20 civilian and military Volunteers from the mercy

DURATION: 16 jun 2010 – 21 JUN 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED:  128

• The Goodwill Children’s Center

The organization’s mission is to provide an education for displaced children

PROJECT SCOPE: Repaired existing slide and moved it to new location for better usage of the playground. Fabricated a new corrugated metal awning to provide shade to the children. Moved the existing basketball hoop and built a new backboard.



The Goodwill Center backyard before

The slide is relocated, modified, and improved

A new metal canopy is installed to give shade to the children

The basketball hoop is moved and a new backboard is made

A group photo with some of the children at the Goodwill Center

PERSONNEL: 12 Seabees and ROYAL Australian ARMY Engineers from the Mercy; 4 civilian Volunters from the Mercy

DURATION: June 15 2010 thru June 19 2010

MAN-DAYS EXPENDED:  50

• Ang Chum Primary School and Pagoda Well

A rural school and pagoda in a farming and fishing community located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, serving two villages with a population of 7,779. The school has 459 students (grades 1 thru 6), and 7 teachers. There is no electricity at the site and the only water available is from a pond on the school grounds, and a rain-water catchment system.

PROJECT SCOPE: Drill one water well (casing set at 185 feet). Construct a prefabricated elevated water tower, 10,000 liter water tank, and solar powered pumping system. Distribution lines were installed to the restrooms, with an additional line to a water distribution point on the outside wall of the compound to serve the local residents. Constructed two masonry hand washing stations. During the drilling operations of both wells, the crew worked 24/7, working 12 hour shifts!

Problems occurred with the first drill site: the drilling steel became lodged in a large air-pocket and could not be removed. This first well site had to be abandoned, filled-in, and capped over.

While waiting for additional material and equipment to arrive from Guam to begin the 2^nd well attempt, the Seabees worked with the Utah National Guard on a school nearby called Kam Pong Spue. The Seabees received commendations of merit for their great work on this school.

Prior to beginning the 2^nd well, the local Cambodians requested that a religious ceremony be performed to insure success. The 2^nd well was drilled successfully, and clean water is now available to the community!

Lily pond used by the community for their water supply, along with a well (dried-out due to the drought), and a typical rain water catchment system.

Typical rain water catchment system.

The abandoned well at the site

Due to the drought, and the shallow depth of the old well, it was bone-dry! This community was desperate for water!

The original well site, before disaster struck! Just a few hours before the completion of drilling, a large hollow was encountered, and the drill shaft got stuck… and the sides of the well collapsed. Eventually, the well had to be abandoned.

The new water tower and tank built to hold the new well water.

After considerable debate, it was decided to continue the work–another well site would be chosen and the drilling would have to start all over again. But new drilling parts would have to be purchased and shipped from Guam, and the Seabees would have to extend their time in Cambodia.

While waiting for parts, the Seabees worked with the Utah National Guard to build this new school.

As at the other sites, the Seabees did more than just drill a well–they painted, installed hundreds of feet of buried piping to various buildings and water tanks, and built hand-washing stations, like the one pictured above.

During all of this time, they were not alone! They had become the entertainment for the local community. Children and adults gathered around to watch them work. Many did not believe that they were there drilling a water well–such a kindness was unknown to them… They believed they were there drilling for oil…

Imagine their happy faces when they saw WATER coming out of the pipes! Clean water for the entire community was pumped first to the storage tanks, then directed to various locations around the site.