RWANDA SELF HELP PROGRAM RECEIVES EXCITED RECEPTION

UNCLAS KIGALI 000740 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C, AF/EPS, AF/EX SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON AFIN RW SUBJECT: RWANDA SELF HELP PROGRAM RECEIVES EXCITED RECEPTION REF: Kigali 668 ¶1. Post has obligated all of the Ambassador's Special-Help Program funds in fiscal year 2006. ¶2. U.S. Embassy Kigali hosted on July 20 a signing ceremony for the recipients of the FY2006 Self Help Fund. Charg d'Affaires signed 17 grants worth a total of $76 000. Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) grants listed in reftel were also awarded. The event was attended by some 50 individuals from the selected projects and was covered by 9 media outlets, including the national broadcaster. The national English-language newspaper ran an editorial under the headline "Bottom-Top Approach to Development Ideal," lauding the program and the U.S. government's grassroots approach to development assistance. ¶3. The Embassy has assigned each of the 17 grantees an Embassy or USAID employee who will sponsor the project. The sponsor program is designed to engage the Embassy community further into the local community and to provide a deeper level of oversight and attention to each project. The associations met their sponsors at the ceremony. ¶4. Following is a description of the 17 Self-Help projects. ¶A. 'Abadahemuka' Association: USD 5,129 Self Help Funds will be used to purchase 22 goats, fence farmland, plant one hector of land with fodder, build a kraal and a water tank, and purchase drugs for the goats. ¶B. Association 'Jya Mubandi Mwana': USD 8,575 Self-Help funds will be used to buy shoe sewing machines, a shoe repair machine, and shoe making material. ¶C. Soroptimist International: USD 3,179 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase twelve sewing machines and various supplies for the tailoring section of a vocational school. ¶D. Association Des Jeunes Pour le Dveloppement Rural de Ntongwe : USD 7,078 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase roofing materials and a power connection to renovate a building which will be used as the welding workshop and to purchase welding equipment and materials. ¶E. Association les Mains Ouverte 'IHORERE' : USD 1,376 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase supplies for making shopping bags and to provide a trainer. ¶F. Collectif D'initiative Pour la Promotion de L'environnement et du Bien Etre (CIPEBE) : USD 6,196 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase 50 pigs, construct a water tank, and provide medicine for the pigs. ¶G. Groupement Associatif 'Urukundo' ASBL: USD 8,359 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase modern beehives, honey extracting equipment, and livestock for breeding. ¶H. Association des Artisans Cordonniers de Gacuriro 'ACOGA' : USD 5,567 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase shoe making machines and additional supplies. ¶I. Friends Peace House: USD 6,366 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase supplies for the construction of a workshop and to purchase welding equipment and supplies. ¶J. Association Pour L'intensification des Cultures Fruitihre 'APICF' : USD 9,074 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase equipment and materials for processing passion fruit juice. ¶K. Association Pour la Promotion des Artisans Dans le Secteur Rural 'APASR' : USD 8,166 Self-Help funds will be used to construct a workshop and to purchase banana fiber processing equipment for handicrafts. ¶L. 'Abunzubumwe' II: USD 953 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase 34 pigs and medicine. ¶M. Dukundane: USD 1,316 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase 47 pigs and medicine. ¶N. Girimpuhwe: USD 644 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase 23 pigs and medicine. ¶O. Association of Masons and Carpenters 'A.T.M.M': USD 1,594 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase carpentry and masonry equipment. ¶P. 'Dufatanye Babyeyi': USD 1,379 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase goats, sheep, and medicine for the animals. ¶Q. Twisungane: USD 1,049 Self-Help funds will be used to purchase groundnut seeds, farming equipment and pay 12 months rent for the land. ARIETTI