Eight (8) Organizations yesterday signed a grant of over Le 200m with the American Ambassador June Cater Perry to undertake developmental projects.
The Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund which is an annual funding to aid communities received over 200 applicants this year; but the proposals from the selected 8 organization seemed to be in dire need than the rest of the applicants.
The eight (8) Organizations were: Gallinas Perri Development Project located at Nyeama Village, Pujehun District; Liverpool Islamic Community Junior Secondary School located at Benguema Waterloo, Western Area; Organization for Peace Reconciliation and Development Sierra Leone at Mile 91; Koinadugu Vegetable Women Farmers Cooperative at Koinadugu District; Tonkolili District Disable Organization- Magburaka; Kasengetha Village Community Development Association- Kambia District; Eastern Polytechnic College- Kenema Town and Movement for Association and Promotion of Rural Communities in Bo and Moyamba Districts.
Ambassador Perry said the United States is strongly committed to the development of Sierra Leone, “we believe that one of the best ways to help is to empower communities with the resources to improve their own living conditions.”
The Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund, she said, “allows us to respond to request for assistance to support local community organizations that have a clearly identified need, but lack the resources to address it.”
The beneficiaries, she said “are committed to improving their economic or social conditions, through education, agriculture, health, or sanitation projects.”
She explained that the Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund is a reaffirmation of the American concern for progress in African Communities.
“It promotes development at the local level, which we believe is one of the most effective ways. For that reason, the Self Help Fund requires communities to contribute to every project, taking ownership by committing labor and other locally available resources,” she intimated.
Ambassador Perry disclosed that the projects are diverse, including schools, farms, water facilities, and income-generating activities. They vary geographically, from nearby Western Area localities to the far reaches of Eastern Sierra Leone.
All together, she revealed, “the Self Help Fund granting over Le 200 this year, and we look forward to working with these communities along the way to ensure they maximize the positive impacts of the grants.”