PRESS RELEASE

U. S. Ambassador to Award N$1.4 Million Community Development and HIV/AIDS Grants

November 26, 2007

The Ambassador of the United States of America, Dennise Mathieu, will present Self-Help Grants totaling N$1.4 million to thirty-six development projects, at a signing ceremony at 10h30 on Monday, November 26, 2007, at 13 Von Eckenbrecher Street, Klein Windhoek.  The Honorable Dr. Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, Deputy Minister of Education, will be the keynote speaker.

The U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Program is a grass-roots assistance program that responds to requests for financial assistance from small community-based projects that are initiated and administered at the local level; include significant contributions in cash, labor, or materials from the local community; and are self-sustaining.   Introduced in 1990, the Self-Help Program has provided over N$18.4 million in funding to over 350 community based development projects in Namibia.  In addition, this is the third year that the Self-Help Program has funded initiatives in the fight against HIV/AIDS, supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  Twenty-one of the newly awarded projects focus on HIV/AIDS and OVCs, reinforcing Namibia’s National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS.  Overall, projects from ten regions of Namibia won grants this year.

The 2007 projects encompass a diverse range of locally generated initiatives that seek to improve social and economic conditions in Namibia, and tackle HIV/AIDS. One project has a team who repairs and produces wheelchairs, all members are disabled and they are the only producer of wheelchairs in Namibia. Another recycles items such as bicycle spokes and umbrella spines to use as tools.  They also use recycled materials to create finished products for sale. Other projects are improving the supply of water to households, gardens, and grazing areas by drilling boreholes, laying pipelines, and installing pumps.  There are projects that support hostels, day care centers and soup kitchens.

For more information about the Ambassador’s Self-Help Program, and how to apply, please contact the Self Help Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy at (061) 295 8635.

 

2007 Self-Help Program Grantees

Grantee	Region	$N
Katima Farmers Seed Producer Coop (KAPASEPCO)	Caprivi	46,900
Asser Kapere Pre-Primary School	Erongo	13,400
Tears of Hope *	Erongo	13,065
The Grace of God Pre-School *	Erongo	18,090
Mbasen Needlework Project *	Karas	18,760
Southern Community Development Trust	Karas	30,150
Zoekmekaar Boer Goat Project	Karas	48,240
FLAME *	Khomas	8,700
Kasojetua National Choir *	Khomas	10,700
Windhoek School for the Hearing Impaired	Khomas	9,400
Kondja, Kondja Project	Kunene	13,700
Mission for the Education of the OVC *	Kunene	21,440
Bunya AIDS Network *	Okavango	29,500
Kaisosi OVC Project *	Okavango	145,400
Nankali Chicken Farm *	Okavango	38,860
Ncumcara Community Forest	Okavango	24,800
Runone HIV/AIDS Support Group *	Okavango	16,000
Theresia's OVC Foundation *	Okavango	146,000
Twayapa Shotoyowe *	Okavango	79,730
Let's Pull Together Kindergarten *	Omaheke	71,690
Martha's San Bead, Leather, and Wood Project	Omaheke	20,100
Riekemetse Youth Project *	Omaheke	69,680
San People Garden Project *	Omaheke	49,580
LOREWO (Local Rehibilitation Workshop)	Oshana	59,630
Namutembulilwa Ka Yola Project	Oshana	37,520
Omwena Tala Oshiwana Shoye (ELCIN) *	Oshana	45,560
Ifeta Project *	Oshikoto	15,410
Onankali Paper Project *	Oshikoto	64,320
The Solar Stove Project	Oshikoto	29,800
Ilena Tulikwafeni Center *	Otjozondjupa	14,740
Okamatapati Brick Making	Otjozondjupa	26,130
Okamatapati Leather Working	Otjozondjupa	15,410
Omulunga Soup Kitchen *	Otjozondjupa	33,500
Pamwe Clothing Association	Otjozondjupa	33,835
Tavizako Gam Project	Otjozondjupa	29,480
Wild Dog Conservancy *	Otjozondjupa	62,310
* Denotes PEPFAR funded