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USAID Employee Receives Award for Volunteerism Abroad
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2007
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Paul Sabatine, Director of the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has received the Secretary of State's Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. This award recognizes outstanding volunteer service performed overseas by employees and family members in the following areas: remarkable service to the American community; outstanding activities directed toward the host country; and exceptional service in emergencies.
A ceremony was held Tuesday, however Sabatine was not in attendance. While extremely honored, he graciously declined the invitation to attend the event in order to remain in Bangladesh to continue assisting with recovery efforts following Cyclone Sidr which struck on Nov. 15. Sabatine's mother, Karen Sabatine, accepted the award on his behalf.
Since Sabatine began his assignment in Bangladesh in 2004, outside of his official duties he has devoted his volunteer efforts to further the education of street children and the employment of destitute women in Dhaka. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Eglal's ABC School for street children, the school building has been renovated to include a computer lab, upgraded kitchen, showers and ceiling fans. In addition, vaccinations and medical care are also provided to the students. His implementation of a monthly family subsistence plan catapulted school attendance from 70% to 92%.
Sabatine also volunteered to manage and promote sales of handicrafts by a cooperative of marginalized women. His management and financial skills resulted in tripling the income for the 50 women who relied on the cooperative for their sole support. He has also established an infrastructure which the cooperative now uses to manage its own sales and financial plan.
For more information about USAID's projects in Bangladesh and around the world visit www.usaid.gov.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.
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