Signing Ceremony: Ambassador’s Special Self Help Program

This year, three Seychellois non-governmental organizations have been selected to receive grants totaling seventy-five thousand rupees from the Ambassador’s Special Self Help program.  The United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Mr. Charles Twining and the grant recipients signed the Self Help grant agreements in Seychelles on August 2, 2006.

The United States Government established the Ambassador’s Self Help Program in the Seychelles in 1972 under the Foreign Assistance Act.  The program’s primary objective is to improve basic economic, social and environmental conditions at the local community level.  The Self Help Program encourages the development of grassroots initiatives to solve problems.  Self Help activities, as the name indicates, require a significant contribution of money and time from the beneficiaries, with the U.S. financing serving as a catalyst.

Each year, under the Ambassador’s Self Help Program, the Embassy provides funding for projects designed by non-governmental organizations and community groups to the benefit of the community at large. During the past 10 years, the Embassy has funded 70 Self Help projects in Seychelles totaling over 1.6 million rupees.

This year’s recipients include: 

1) Island Conservation Society

2) Ateleye pour Aprann Nouvo Artizan

3) Seychelles Association of Professional Women.

August 11, 2006

Copyright 2006: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles