Press Releases
U.S Embassy Awards 12 Grants to Zambian Self-Help and Democracy and Human Rights Groups
May 07, 2008. Lusaka.
Lusaka-- U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez today signed twelve agreements totaling $125,000 in grants to Zambian organizations. Half of the grants were awarded to community-based organizations to build classrooms or expand capacity, while six of the grants support activities aimed at promoting democracy and human rights throughout Zambia. These agreements are funded through the U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self Help Program and Democracy and Human Rights Fund.
During a signing ceremony held at the American Center in Lusaka, Ambassador Martinez said that the American grants had been assisting communities and people throughout Africa since its introduction in 1964.
Ambassador Martinez explained that small-scale assistance to Zambian organizations is part of an ongoing commitment by the U.S. government to support Zambian-driven development activities and the emergence of a vibrant civil society.
“This year’s recipient organizations intend to build two concrete fish ponds in Choma; add classrooms and expand a school’s instruction to grade seven in Lusaka; construct a weir to harvest and store water for livestock watering and provide small-scale irrigation in Kafwambila; and, build two classrooms and a library at a trade school in Lusaka,” she explained.
The Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) supports activities promoting political pluralism and human and civil rights. It provides grants to indigenous organizations for small, focused, short-term, high-impact activities. In the past, DHRF grants made a significant local impact and strengthened small groups that otherwise would not have received financial or organizational support.
Recipients of current DHRF grants are drawn from throughout Zambia and will implement wide ranging community activities including sensitization activities to protect women’s rights; securing and protecting victims of domestic violence; child labor and child rights advocacy; prevention of sexual abuse and violence against women and girls; and supplying human rights and civic education materials to a library.
Small-scale assistance to Zambian organizations is part of an ongoing commitment by the U.S. Government to support Zambian-initiated development.
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