WASHINGTON, June 6, 2002 B The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will donate 6,330 tons of U.S. agricultural commodities to ACDI/VOCA for use in Uganda under the Global Food for Education (GFE) program.  ACDI/VOCA, a private voluntary organization, will use the commodities for school feeding and school support programs. 

The donation will include approximately 400 tons of rice, 1,200 tons of corn-soy blend, 110 tons of vegetable oil and 4,620 tons of wheat. 

ACDI/VOCA will improve the quality of and access to primary education for 20,000 Ugandan students in 20-30 disadvantaged districts of Gulu and Kitgum.  ACDI/VOCA has arranged with Catholic Relief Services-Uganda to jointly implement a program that includes developing parent-teacher associations, providing take-home food rations to primary school students, supporting educators and administrators, and promoting school gardens.  The overall strategy is to improve the ability of rural families to send their children to school, while helping school districts provide quality education and assisting communities in becoming more involved with the schools. 

The fiscal 2002 agreement with ACDI/VOCA was signed on May 22, 2002.  The donation is made under USDA=s Section 416(b) program, administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service.  This agreement is part of the $300-million pilot GFE initiative to expand access to basic education and improve childhood development in poor countries.  Under this initiative, the United States is providing surplus agricultural commodities to improve student enrollment, attendance and performance, with special emphasis on increasing female enrollment.  The supply period for this donation is fiscal year 2002. 

For further information, contact Al Ersoz at (202) 720-3405, or send an e-mail to Ersoz @fas.usda.gov . Information on the GFE initiative can be found on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/excredits/gffei.html.  

FAS news releases are available on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov and by fax polling.  Callers should set their fax machines for polling and dial (202) 720-1728.  For additional information about Web or fax access, contact FAS Public Affairs Division at (202) 720-7115. 

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