CBOs receive P1.4m US grant

Zolani Kraai | Friday July 18, 2014 13:41

Speaking during the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund and Julia Taft Refugee Fund Grant Ceremony yesterday, Charge’ d’ Affaires Michael Murphy said the US Embassy has undertaken to support community based natural resources management (CBRM) programmes.

Murphy was distributing grants of P1.4 million to Community Based Organisations (CBOs) from across the country. He said his office provides grants to small-scale community development projects to encourage self-reliance within local communities.

The funding, said Murphy, targeted projects that included significant community involvement and lead to self-sustaining community involvement and self-sustaining activities.

He added that his government fully appreciates strongest development partnership with Botswana, saying they would continue to support projects that help rural communities diversify their livelihoods through sustainable management of their natural resources, whether wildlife or veld products.

“We want to help you make an even bigger impact and reach your developmental goals,” Murphy said.

The ceremony, Murphy noted, was a living example of developmental assistance where the US Embassy handed over the centrifuge for the production of high quality marula oil which allow a community trust there to market an internationally competitive product with the revenues used to generate income for local women.

Murphy also expressed appreciation for the Government of Botswana programmes that aim to support Botswana youth, specifically engaging and empowering young people through Peace Corps programming. To this end, he cited the Youth Advisory Council, cultural and exchange programmes to the United States and most recently President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).

“Since 2000, the Ambassador’s Self Help Fund has awarded over P14 million to community based projects throughout the country and today we are kicking off two projects out of the 15 that will have a direct impact on the community at the Dukwi Refugee Camp and one at Botswana Red Cross Society to construct a safe paly ground for refugee children. The Dukwi project will support Skillshare International Botswana to expand its sports programmes and recreational; activities including drama, poetry and art for youth in the camp. Amongst some of the groups that received the grants are Ark and Mark Trust, Batlang Support Group, Children in the Wilderness, Gakhibane Village Development Committee Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisation in Maun and Kgomotso Counseling Centre under BOCAIP in Tsabong.”