Community organisations get US grants

SYLVIAH DISELE
Correspondent | Tuesday May 21, 2013 00:00

 

Speaking before the signing of the latest grant documents, the American Ambassador to Botswana, Michelle Gavin, said as one of Botswana's development partners, America has provided more than a billion pula in assistance as Botswana made its remarkable journey in the development path.

'Most of that assistance was targeting the health sector and much of it in the form of very large scale projects worth hundreds of millions of pula,' she said. Under Botswana Christian Aid Intervention Programme Gumare Counselling Centre was given P129,621.10 for a project called Okavango Youth Development - the Road to a Brighter Tomorrow in Gumare.

Botsogo Association for Disabled People got P75,203.33 for income generating and food security gardening in Letlhakeng.  Botswana Retired Nurses Society got P148,500 for Go Girls Porta Cabin in Gaborone. P147,763.87 was given to the Centre for Youth of Hope (CEYOHO) for construction of an ablution block at the new CEYOHO centre in Gaborone.

Easy Care Orphan Care Centre got P98,243.46 for the construction of a youth centre with an Internet cafe in Shashemooke. The Forum for Evened Out Control of HIV and AIDS got P60,000 for an income-generating project for Botswana Waste Recyclers Arts and Craft in Molepolole.

Matsheng Community Development Trust was awarded P65,114.15 for the construction of an ablution block that will be used for income generation for its Morula fruit-processing factory in Shadishadi. Olorato Children's Care Centre got P84,491.11 for furnishing and equipping the new Children Care Centre in Lotlhakane East. In addition, Shelter Botswana Health Promotion got P107,397 for Kgolo Community Garden in Maun, which is aimed at generating income and food security.

Skillshare International Botswana got P59,035.50 for an income-generating sewing project under the Julia Taft Refugee Fund, a youth focused sports programme in Dukwi was awarded P190,016, while the Nutrition and Health for Youth in Mochudi got P28,239.95 under Stepping Stones International.

At the signing ceremony at the American Embassy last Thursday, Gavin commended the organisations that were receiving grants for having taken the necessary steps by first recognising a need in the community, seeking out input on how to address that need and finally establishing a partnership with the American Embassy for implementing the solution.

Gavin said that they focus on projects that improve basic economic or social conditions at the village level, that have high impact and can be quickly implemented and benefit a large number of people and those projects that involve a significant local contribution in labour, material or cash.   The ambassador said that they also look at the projects that are within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain, have a direct response to the initiative and aspirations of the local community and contribute to income generating activities where possible.

Giving a vote of thanks, the chairperson of the technical committee of the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs, Annah Gabaikhe, thanked America for investing resources and manpower in Botswana.  'At the moment, there is no fund specifically designated to assist those community-based development projects to venture into projects which can improve their living standards and the American Embassy rescued our country,' she said.

Gabaikhe promised Gavin that the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders will monitor and mentor Botsogo Association for Disabled so that the project can succeed and improve the living standards of people living with disabilities in Letlhakeng.