SOUTH AFRICA FY07 SPECIAL SELF HELP (SSH) STATUS REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRETORIA 001078

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS T. DAVIDSON
DEPT PASS TO USAID/AFR/SD K. SCHUERMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA FY07 SPECIAL SELF HELP (SSH) STATUS REPORT

REF: STATE 92626


1. Summary: In FY07, Embassy Pretoria selected ten projects for the
Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program with total allocations of USD
100,000. Nine of the projects are ongoing and performing
satisfactorily in providing social and economic services to the
vulnerable populations of the affected communities. End Summary.


2. Project(s) summary and status as follows:


A. Grantee Name: University of KwaZulu Natal/Happy Valley
Clinic Project
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-D-01
Project Title: Happy Valley Clinic Project
Amount of Grant: $12,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $4,296.74
Description of Activity: Build toilets for patients at primary
healthcare clinic run by medical students of the Nelson Mandela
School of Medicine.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 3,640 per year (70 per week)
Status of Project: Grantee received first installment. Grantee and
Self-Help Coordinator consulted with engineers at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal who confirmed that planned toilet facilities would
comply with applicable environmental regulations, codes, and
procedures. Costs have increased, and the building plan and quote
had to be amended. Construction is expected to be completed within
the time allowed by the extension of the grant agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


B. Grantee Name: University of KwaZulu Natal/Happy Valley
Clinic Project
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-D-02
Project Title: Kuyasa Development Organization
Amount of Grant: $10,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $5,150.78
Description of Activity: Purchase sewing machines for income
generation project.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 261 principal beneficiaries
(members of cooperative "mini factory")
Status of Project: Grantee provided invoices for the first
installment and simultaneously requested the second installment.
Self-Help Coordinator recently visited grantee and saw the funded
equipment which had been purchased. Grantee happily reported that
the equipment (especially a domestic embroidery machine) has helped
them to increase productivity and quality of work to such an extent
that the Department of Trade & Industry has promised to fund an
industrial embroidery machine for the organization to allow them to
increase substantially the work and worth of the organization's
products. Once the second installment has been received, completion
of spending and liquidation is expected within the time allowed by
the grant extension.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


C. Grantee Name: Place of Refuge
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-D-03
Project Title: Place of Refuge
Amount of Grant: $8,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $3,228.09
Description of Activity: Convert two rooms in shelter to bathroom
facilities. Shelter provides rehabilitation and skills training for
men addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 224 per year (56 per quarter)
Status of Project: Grantee received first installment. The service
provider has completed all work on room conversions. Unfortunately,
the Grantee organization's coordinator, a pastor, died during the
grant cycle. The coordinator's wife, who was very involved with the
project, was too distraught to continue the work herself, and
referred all related work to the church that owned the building.
They decided that though the location was good for its proximity to
the needy, drug addicts, and homeless people, it was not conducive
Qthe needy, drug addicts, and homeless people, it was not conducive
to "rehabilitation" because it was situated in an area where drug
usage is rampant. For this reason, the organization has ceased to
function at the original location; however the work has continued
successfully on a farm outside Durban. Self-Help Coordinator is
awaiting final invoices to submit for final grant payment to the
service provider as all work has been completed per the grant
agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


D. Grantee Name: Dryharts Village Gardens Project
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-J-01
Project Title: Dryharts Village Gardens Project
Amount of Grant: $10,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $7,053.60
Description of Activity: Drill bore-holes and equip community garden
with tools and supplies.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 1,000
Status of Funds: Dryharts Village used the first advance of

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$7,053.60 to install a perimeter fence to secure the area and to
test for and dig a borehole. Dryharts Village had anticipated
digging two boreholes, but the location of the second bore hole
would not produce water. Liquidation of the first tranche has been
submitted, as well as a request for a second tranche to purchase
gardening equipment. After the borehole project was complete,
Dryharts Village had a water supply to service a community garden.
This garden will be run by community members to provide fresh
produce to the orphans and vulnerable children attending the two
schools surrounding the borehole. The North West Provincial
Government awarded the Dryharts Village borehole project the bronze
medal in the competition for "North West Project of the Year." The
community credited the U.S. Government for its financial support.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


E. Grantee Name: Lechabile Special Needs Center
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-J-02
Project Title: Lechabile Special Needs Center
Amount of Grant: $10,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $3,534.55
Description of Activity: Erect fencing, install household
appliances, bathroom fixtures, and furniture, and create an offiQkqQQQ)E @ld Number of Beneficiaries: 22 children with special needs
who reside at Lechabile
Status of Project: Lechabile has received two installments of
funding. They used the first tranche to purchase a refrigerator,
washing machine, vacuum cleaner, table and chairs and small kitchen
appliances and items. The first installment of funding has been
successfully liquidated and the second advance was released.
Lechabile has installed fencing surrounding the current site and
created an office at the centre, equipped with a laptop computer and
new furnishings. Lechabile is currently in the process of
submitting receipts to liquidate the second installment.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


F. Grantee Name: Taung Clinic
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-J-03
Project Title: Taung Clinic
Amount of Grant: $5,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $912.79
Description of Activity: Build a structure for ARV patients to use
while waiting for appointments and transportation in order to avoid
standing in undesirable weather and heat.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 2,600
Status of Project: The grantee used the first advance to erect a
pavilion-like shelter to protect the clinic's patients. The clinic
provides ARV treatment (as well as other medical services) to 120
patients daily. In the past, these patients waited outside before
and after their appointments, as the clinic is very small. Often
sick patients were forced to endure rain or scorching sun for hours.
The project has submitted liquidation paperwork for the first
tranche of funding. They are currently in the process of gathering
quotations for the second tranche. With these funds the clinic
plans to create a "Kids' Korner" of the shelter to entertain
children while they wait.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


G. Grantee Name: Diabashe Day Care Centre
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-C-01
Project Title: Diabashe Day Care Centre
Amount of Grant: $12,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $725.31


Description of Activity: Construction of bedrooms for orphans and
expansion of day care centre
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 200 children and orphans
Status of Project: The grantee has used the first advance to
purchase building materials. Liquidation of first installment and
Qpurchase building materials. Liquidation of first installment and
advance request for second installment were sent to USAID in
September 2008. The grantee has used the second and final advance
to purchase construction, electrical, and plumbing materials and
windows to complete the building of the new bedrooms and day care
centre.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


H. Grantee Name: Church Foundation Ministry in Bongolethu
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-C-02
Project Title: Church Foundation Ministry in Bongolethu
Amount of Grant: $10,000
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $4,523.53
Description of Activity: Purchase brick-making equipment for
project in area with 75% unemployment and 9,000 families on a
waiting list for homes.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 24 community members will train
in brick making and 500 families will receive houses
Status of Project: The grantee used the first advance to purchase

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fencing material, a cement mixer, wheel barrows, spades, and
hosepipes, and put down a deposit towards a Doubell machine, a stock
brick maker, and block molds. SGC is in contact with the company,
Quick Brick, who confirmed that the Doubell machine along with stock
brick maker and block molds will be ready for collection on October

3. Liquidation of first installment and advance request for second
installment were sent to USAID. The grantee used the second and
final advance to pay the outstanding sum for the brick-making
machine, delivery of the same, and to purchase construction
materials such as sand and cement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


I. Grantee Name: Alfa Pre-School
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-P-01
Project Title: Alfa Pre-School
Amount of Grant: $13,000.00
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $0
Description of Activity: Build new building for pre-school which
provides a valuable education to rural children.
Beneficiaries: 185 members of the community (children and their
families as well as school staff and their families).
Status of Project: Alfa Pre-School is situated at Klipgat in North
West Province. The grant from SSH was mainly for a building -
materials and labor. The project has liquidated the entire grant.
The last advance was liquidated on October 9, 2008. The structure
built by SSH funds allowed Alfa Pre-School to provide three
classrooms, a storage room, an administration office, and a health
room for ill children. As the result of the structural
improvements, Alfa Pre-School accommodates more children and has
introduced a new afterschool program to the community for
unsupervised street children, offering a place of safety and one hot
meal per day.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


J. Grantee Name: Marang A Setshaba
Agreement Number: SSH-07-674-P-02
Project Title: Marang A Setshaba
Amount of Grant: $10,000.00
Total Amount Advance Unliquidated: $5,243.05
Description of Activity: Purchase equipment for income generation
recycling project.
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 0
Status of Funds: Marang A Setshaba is situated in Soshanguve
Township in the North West Province. The grant provided for eight
community members in Soshanguve and surrounding areas to collect
recyclables (plastic, glass, paper, etc.) and sell the recyclable
materials to different recycling companies. The project received an
advance of $5,000 to buy an industrial scale and two steel bottle
crushers. Project has not yet liquidated the advance. After
multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain receipts, Coordinators have
ceased all future funding to this project. The Regional Security
Offices at Embassy Pretoria and USAID are currently investigating
the missing funds, as well as the project manager's allegations of
embezzlement against other members of the project.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007


3. Post appreciates the continued support of AF/EPS and USAID/AFR in
securing funds for these valuable programs.

LA LIME