Embassy Grants Support Swazi OVC Community Development Projects

January, 01,2012

MBABANE – The U.S. Ambassador’s Community Grants for Vulnerable Children, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is an initiative introduced by the U.S. Embassy to assist local organizations to implement small scale projects to benefit vulnerable children all over Swaziland.  The key objective of the U.S. Ambassador’s Community Grants Program is to strengthen service delivery and improve the quality of life of vulnerable children in communities affected by HIV and AIDS. 

On January 19, Ambassador Earl Irving officially awarded grants to 8 community groups from across Swaziland, including Compassionate Swaziland, Swaziland Hospice At Home,  Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross Society, Gone Rural bo Make, New Hope Centre, the Swaziland National Award Authority-Prince Makhosini Award, Elwandle Roman Catholic Primary School, and the Matjana Community Pre-School.  The organizations received grants ranging from E73, 000 to E376, 000, bringing the total contribution of the Ambassador’s Community Grants for Vulnerable Children Program to E1.25 million. While the projects are diverse, they all share the common element of attending to the specific needs of children affected by the HIV pandemic.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Earl Irving congratulated the organizations for the work they are doing in the communities to provide care and support to Swaziland’s children.  “This program, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, is an initiative to assist local organizations like yours to implement small scale projects to benefit vulnerable children all over Swaziland.  We believe that, through your organizations, the U.S. Ambassador’s Community Grants program will serve to strengthen services and improve the quality of life of vulnerable children in communities affected by HIV and AIDS across the Kingdom.” 

The grantees were selected through a competitive application process open to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs) and groups of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). For more information on the Ambassador’s Community Grants for Vulnerable Children and other community self-help grant opportunities, contact Self-Help Coordinator Vicky Mboka-Boyer at 2404-6441 or at mboka-boyerav@state.gov.