Press Release
U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund awards Community groups
December 16, 2008
The United States Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania Mark Green has, today, presented seven grants from the U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund totaling $ 40,000 (approximately Tsh50 million/-) to qualified community groups from Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Kagera, Morogoro, Mwanza, Pemba and Zanzibar regions.
According to a U.S. Embassy statement the grants are provided to fund small projects in community services, social assistance and water and sanitation. The grants range from Tsh 3,420,000 to Tsh 12,485,000. All grantees applied through the United States Embassy’s Special Self Help Fund, an annual program that is open to any community group that has registered with the local government.
Speaking at a brief ceremony held at the U.S. Mission in Msasani, Ambassador Green said, “Since 1965, these grants have contributed to improving education, health care, infrastructure, good governance and human rights throughout Tanzania and the rest of Africa. It is our hope that these projects help develop sustainable efforts that benefit entire communities for years to come.”
Two community groups were awarded the Self Help Fund grants in the Community Service sector. These were the Fundo Fisheries Organization of Pemba Island, who received Tsh 4,370,000 to purchase new equipment for improving the group’s seaweed harvesting operation; and the Upendo Women's Group of Dar es Salaam which received Tsh 12,485,000 to procure a soap manufacturing machine which will help lower the cost of soap for Kinondoni residents.
In the Water and Sanitation sector, the Almadrasatal Tarbiyatil Islamiya of Kidoti, Zanzibar, received Tsh 3,371,000 to connect their school to one of Zanzibar’s main water lines; the Bure Garden Group of Ukerewe, Mwanza, will use a Tsh 4,994,000 grant for a borehole, pump and water storage tank; and the Iwawa Secondary School in Makete, Iringa, received Tsh 5,370,000 grant to build a dual storage tank system to provide water to the school during the dry season. The Social Assistance sector grants were awarded to the Diocese of Morogoro’s Amani Centre for People with Disabilities, which received Tsh 7,491,000 to construct an irrigation system at their Mvoreno Farm, and to the Kayanga Vocation Training Centre in Karagwe, Kagera, which received Tsh11, 860,000 to build a girl’s dormitory.
The Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund is part of the U.S. Ambassador’s Community Grants Program. Other Community Grants include the Ambassador’s Fund for HIV/AIDS Relief and the Democracy and Human Rights Fund. The U.S. Mission will be accepting applications for the next round of the Ambassador’s Community Grant Programs until June 31, 2009. To obtain an application, please contact the U.S. Embassy’s Community Grants Office by post at U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam or visit us online at http://tanzania.usembassy.gov.
Funding for these community grants come from the American people and are part of on-going U.S. direct and multilateral assistance to Tanzania of more than 750 billion Tanzanian shillings during fiscal year 2008.