CALL FOR SELF-HELP INTERIM OBLIGATION REPORTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MASERU 000319 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON AFIN LT SUBJECT: CALL FOR SELF-HELP INTERIM OBLIGATION REPORTS REF: STATE 106757 In 2005 post received funds in the amount of $69,000 that were obligated in September of the same year to fund ten (15) projects. Most of these projects are on schedule and will be completed and closed as of September 30, 2006. These projects covered a wide range of activities that included support to HIV/AIDS support groups, OVC, education, income-generation, and the disabled. Following is a summary of cumulative obligations for the year. ¶1. Project Name: Ts'oaranang ka Matsoho Bacha - Roma: A youth group in Roma that was to start a poultry and egg project to supply local businesses, hospitals, schools, churches and the community at large with poultry and eggs. This would have been the first and only local owned and operated egg and poultry business in the area. The money was to be used to purchase materials needed to start a poultry project, e.g., building materials for the chicken shed, a generator, layer pullets at point-of-lay and feed. The chairman defrauded the cooperative members' part of the money and a court case is pending. Materials that were already purchased are in Police custody as exhibits for the case. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/2006 SSH-632-001 $4,000.00 $83.00 Status: Currently the Project Manager is in prison awaiting trial. Project is in limbo pending court case for which the date of hearing has not been set due to congestion of cases in the prosecutor's office. ¶2. Project Name: Lesotho Save the Children: An organization that among its other programs runs a children's home called Maseru Children's Village (MCV). MCV provides a temporary home for abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned children referred by the Department of Social Welfare and the police. They were awarded this grant to renovate the children's playground and purchase outdoor games/equipment; purchase household equipment such as stoves, a washing machine and a dryer, material for curtains, and wardrobes. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-002 $4, 000.00 $1,866.00 Status: Procurement is on schedule. All monies will have been used by September 15, 2006. ¶3. Project Name: Thaba Bosiu OVC Horticultural Project: The communities of ten villages in the Thaba Bosiu area were supported with their horticultural project. The funds are being used to purchase seeds, indigenous chickens, agricultural kits, e.g., small sprinklers, small water pumps, rakes, hoes, watering cans, etc., to be used in the community-based horticultural projects in the ten villages. The gardens support 200 orphans, vulnerable children and the chronically ill persons. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/2006 SSH-632-003 $4, 000.00 $- 0 - Status: Procurement is completed. All monies have been used up. ¶4. Project Name: Habitat for Humanity Lesotho: Was awarded $3,500.00 for the training and start-up of five small businesses at their site in Khubelu Village. Khubelu community members have a history and track record of working together successfully as evidenced by the 62 new houses they have constructed under the Habitat model (lower income housing). A skilled teacher/trainer/business woman helped participants develop strong business plans and learn practical management skills. The funds were used to purchase the basic equipment needed for start up, e.g.., public phone, gas, tailoring/sewing machines, and cement block making. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-004 $3, 500.00 $46.00 Status: Procurement of required materials and equipment is almost complete and the remaining funds will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶5. Project Name: Itataise Society - Sekamaneng: Awarded $4,000.00 to purchase piglets, feed and vaccinations. The pigs are being sold to generate income for the community. MASERU 00000319 002 OF 004 This is a very dynamic, unified and motivated group. They have initiated several projects, many of which are designed to assist the numerous orphans living with and partially supported by members of the community. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-005 $4, 000.00 $7.00 Status: Project is on schedule and the remaining funds will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶6. Project Name: Senate's House: The center was awarded $3,000.00 to purchase and equip the center with office equipment & furniture, electricity, telephone line installation, security devices and educational equipment. The center is a community organization working to promote the health, safety and well being of vulnerable women and children in the district of Mokhotlong. It provides HIV/AIDS and reproductive health education, outreach and support services. It operates from two buildings, one as an Outreach Center which provides reproductive health outreach initiatives and advocacy programs to promote the health and rights of women and children and the other a Safehouse which is the first women's shelter in Lesotho and offers crisis support and counseling to vulnerable mothers and survivors of sexual or physical violence. In addition, the Safehouse provides shelter to vulnerable pregnant girls and mothers whose children are in need of health monitoring by staff at the local children's rehabilitation center Touching Tiny Lives. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-006 $3, 000.00 $651.00 Status: Project is on schedule and the remaining funds will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶7. Project Name: Kholisong Nursery School: Granted $3,000.00 to improve the interior of the classroom, build toilets, and install a water tap in the premises. It is one of the nurseries registered under the umbrella of the Lesotho National Council of Women. The school accommodates approximately 50 students. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-007 $3, 000.00 $ -0- Status: Project is on schedule. ¶8. Project Name: Hlabollanang Multipurpose Cooperative Society: It was awarded $3,500.00 to purchase raw materials for the production of aloe-based cosmetics. This is a group of parents of intellectually disabled children. They intend to teach their children income-generating skills and the ability to work by developing an aloe cosmetics business. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-008 $3, 500.00 $1,451.00 Status: Project is on schedule. The balance will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶9. Project Name: Lesotho National Council of Women Vocational Center: The center was awarded $5,000.00 to procure sewing machines, fabric, wool and accessories with which to train women and young girls who have dropped out of school in income-generating activities. The center is an umbrella for 19 women's organizations in Lesotho and its objective is promotion of understanding and cooperative efforts amongst NGOs, government and community, welfare organizations and international organizations. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-009 $5, 000.00 $142.00 Status: Project is on schedule and the remaining balance will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶10. Project Name: The Paballong Trust: The Trust was awarded $6,000.00 to furnish residential areas for HIV/AIDS patients (adults and children) who would stay for approximately two weeks to recover and return home to home-based care. At the same time, the Paballong Center will provide support and counseling to the care givers to be better equipped to assist the patients at home. The Paballong Trust supports the Center, whose vision is "to develop a culture of self-reliance within the broader society in relation to the holistic management of HIV/AIDS". MASERU 00000319 003 OF 004 SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-010 $6,000.00 $ - 0 - Status: Project is on schedule. ¶11. Project Name: Ts'oanelo Care Center: Awarded $6,000.00 to improve the interior of the center that provides day care where the orphaned and children with HIV/AIDS are brought in the morning accompanied by their caretakers. The center monitors the health of the children, provides meals, clothing and ensures economic survival of the household that have become destitute, improves the long-term economic prospects of the orphans and provides material relief care and moral support for the affected families. The orphaned and less privileged are provided meals, health services and assistance to go back to school. A local physician and a nurse constantly monitor the children's physical condition. One hundred children are currently being taken care of at this center. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-11 $6,000.00 $3.00 Status: Project is on schedule. ¶12. Project Name: Lesotho Child Counseling Unit (LCCU): The main goal of LCCU is to identify orphaned and sexually abused children (18 years and younger) to provide them with a temporary place of safety (housing, food and medical care) and to provide psychological counseling. It serves children in all the 10 districts throughout the country and works in conjunction with the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, community involvement, the Magistrates and Probation Department, Child Protection and Gender Unit, police and other relevant organizations (Save the Children, SOS, and UNICEF) to help serve the needs of these children in villages throughout the country where these services are not available. Its activities are divided into three primary areas: the Treatment, Prevent and Youth Development Programs. They have been allocated $5,500.00 to assist in the construction of a series of traditional rondavels that would provide expanded housing, office space, private counseling rooms and a meeting/training room. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-012 $5, 500.00 $76.00 Status: Project is on schedule and the remaining balance will have been used up by September 30, 2006. ¶13. Project Name: Lesotho Society of Mentally Handicapped Persons (LSMHP): Received $5,000.00 to purchase garden implements, a tent for training sessions, and hygiene equipment such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, etc. The garden implements are being used to start an agricultural project for mentally disabled children and adults, teaching them agricultural skills and providing them with fresh food. The LSMHP uses the hygiene supplies to conduct classes for the disabled and their families on hygiene and health related issues, and provide counseling for parents on how to care for their disabled children. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-013 $5, 000.00 $3,804.64 Status: Procurement is in progress and the remaining balance will have been used up by September 15, 2006. ¶14. Project Name: Phelisanong Pitseng with Disabled Group: The group was awarded $7,500.00 to construct a craft center for the disabled in the Leribe area. This is a very impressive group of individuals, some of whom are handicapped, parents or relatives of disabled children or adults, or supportive people from the involved villages. The group has several projects, including large vegetable gardens where food is grown both for feeding the families of the group and for providing income, handicraft projects, and a pre-school. The group also provides protective and advocacy services to members who have been abused or are threatened with abuse or ridicule. The center has over 500 members from 14 villages in the area. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-014 $7,500.00 $378.00 MASERU 00000319 004 OF 004 Status: Project is on schedule. Construction of the craft center is almost complete and the remaining balance will have been used by September 15, 2006. ¶15. Project Name: Center for the Poor and Less Privileged: The center was awarded $5,000.00 to purchase layers, feed and cages. The center accepts orphaned, abused and neglected children between the ages of 2 to 18 referred by the police and Department of Social Welfare. The center provides a safe haven, feeding, clothing, schooling and medical care. There is a pre-school on the premises for the under-6. On average, it houses fifty homeless and less privileged children from all over the country and these numbers keep rising in relation to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. SSH Number Amt Obligated Balance As of 06/30/200SSH-632-015 $5, 000.00 $ - 0 - Status: Project is on schedule. PERRYJC