Canadian Navy officers and sailors from HMCS Charlottetown brought laughter, care and meaningful support to children at the Da Nang Center for Victims of Agent Orange and Disadvantaged Children during a community outreach visit as part of their goodwill trip to the central Vietnamese city.

Canadian Navy officers and sailors from HMCS Charlottetown visited the Da Nang Center for Victims of Agent Orange and Disadvantaged Children in Ba Na Commune on May 17.

The visit was one of several community activities carried out during the delegation’s four-day goodwill stay in Da Nang.

At the center, the Canadian officers and sailors split into groups to help clean the grounds, trim grass, tidy gardens, repair damaged electrical systems and repaint parts of the facility.

Under the early summer heat, the sailors worked closely with the center’s staff to carefully improve every courtyard and walkway.

Beyond volunteer work, the delegation also joined sports and cultural exchange activities with the children being cared for at the center.

Friendly basketball games, group singing performances and joyful moments shared through music filled the center with energy and laughter.

Representatives from the center said the activities not only helped improve the landscape and facilities, but also brought meaningful emotional encouragement to the children living and receiving care there.

The warmth and friendliness of the delegation created a joyful atmosphere, helping the children feel connected and cared for during the special exchange.

Sailor Evangelo said the crew members were enthusiastic about meeting and spending time with the children.

He added that community activities like these help strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between Vietnam and Canada.

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Maurice, commanding officer of HMCS Charlottetown, said the crew had been looking forward to visiting Vietnam.

According to him, the trip to Da Nang was not only a goodwill exchange but also an opportunity to build close connections with the local community and deepen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Earlier, on May 15, HMCS Charlottetown docked at Tien Sa Port to begin its four-day goodwill visit to Da Nang.

Ho Giap