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U.S. Ambassador Alan Eastham signing the FY 09 grant agreements at VW.

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U.S. Ambassador Alan Eastham signing the FY 09 grant agreements at VW.

U.S. Embassy Supports Congolese NGOs

U.S. Ambassador Alan W. Eastham signed grants totaling $40,000 with seven local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as part of the Ambassador’s Self Help program.  The grants are awarded in a competition intended to encourage local projects that promote health, improve living conditions and foster entrepreneurship within a community, a village, or a wider area.

FY 2009 grant recipients and guests at the VW signing ceremony

Representatives from the seven NGOs met with Ambassador Eastham on December 17 to sign the grant agreements, paving the way for the organizations to access the funds to start their work.  This past year a record number of requests were received from Congolese NGOs.  Successful grantees must demonstrate a knowledge of their community and resources and the ability to carry out a project to completion. They are also required to contribute over 25% of the resources used for the project.  This Ambassador’s Self-Help program was re-started in 2000 and has been successful with these grass-roots projects that encourage community members to become involved in improving the quality of their lives.

The grant recipients include:

 1) Association  des Tacherons Pour le Développement, which will receive $10,000 to construct two water wells that will provide potable water for the residents in the Sangolo-Mbaloula area of Southern Brazzaville;

 2) Association Agir en Commun pour le Développement Régional, which will receive $10,000 to construct a 50,000 liter cistern that will provide potable water for the residents of Etsouali in the Plateau Department of Northern Congo;

 3) Fondation Cardinal Emile Biayenda, which will receive $5,000 to provide five hand-propelled wheelchairs, seven sewing machines, accessories and sewing materials for handicapped persons in Brazzaville;

 4) Action de Secours D’urgence et  De Développement  Humain, which will receive $5,000 to improve bovine husbandry and the living conditions of people in Kindamba, South Congo;

 5) Association Aide, Assistance et Insertion Socio-Professionnelles, which will receive $3,000 to set up a traditional soap factory that will provide jobs for sixty three unemployed young people living in the Bifouiti area of Southern Brazzaville;

 6) Convention de Partenariat Entre Six Associations, which will receive $6,000 to set up a cassava paste factory in Gamboma, North Congo; and