View organisations by:
United States Embassy Maseru
Contact Details:
Ambassador Robert B. Nolan
Key Lesotho Contact:
Andrew R. Devlin
Special Projects Coordinator
t: +266 2231 2666
f: +266 2231 0116
Postal Address:
U.S. Embassy
P.O. Box 333
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Physical Address:
254 Kingsway Road
Maseru
Type:
Government - Other
Target Groups:
Orphans and Vulnerable Children,People living with HIV,Women,
Paid Staff:
N/A
Volunteer Staff:
N/A
Relationships in Lesotho:
The grants are fully administered by the Ambassador at his discretion. Relationships in Lesotho are completely with our grantees but where required/feasible, the U.S. Embassy collaborates well with other donors for the success of projects.
Main Domain:
Donor
Sectors:
Education,HIV/AIDS,Home-based Care,Sanitation,Water Supplies
Village Location:
The Special Projects accepts proposals for funding from communities from all over Lesotho. Where we work is determined by which proposals merit funding after a thorough review is done.
District Location:
Core Activities:
1. Lesotho Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP)
2. Democracy and Human Rights Development Fund (DHRF)
3. Ambassadors HIV/AIDS Community Grants
4. Ambassadors Special Self-Help
Should potential applicants want to apply for any of the US Embassy grants, they should either look at the website (www.maseru.usembassy.gov) and follow the links to Self Help and DHR fund, or they should feel free to contact the Special Projects office +266 2231 2666.
2. Democracy and Human Rights Development Fund (DHRF)
3. Ambassadors HIV/AIDS Community Grants
4. Ambassadors Special Self-Help
Should potential applicants want to apply for any of the US Embassy grants, they should either look at the website (www.maseru.usembassy.gov) and follow the links to Self Help and DHR fund, or they should feel free to contact the Special Projects office +266 2231 2666.
Activities in Lesotho :
1. Lesotho Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP)
The Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program started in 2000 in Lesotho under the Education for Development & Democracy Initiative (EDDI) and awarded more than 500 scholarships. Four years later the Africa Education Initiative (AEI) followed to continue the objective of the program which is to improve educational opportunities for Africas children so that they may lead happier, healthier lives, and become more productive members of society. Following are the numbers of scholarships and monies awarded in Lesotho under the AEI.
In FY05/06 $65,886 was used to support 172 girls; 110 in primary and the rest in secondary school. In FY06/07 $91,057 was used to support 172 girls while in FY08 $170,290 was used in support of 172 girls and for the first time, 100 boys. In FY09, $135,798 is being used to support 122 girls and 93 boys (65 in primary & secondary and 28 herdboys). The recipients are supported from primary through junior high school. The two remaining years of high school before recipients can go to tertiary institutions are not funded under the program. This has meant an abrupt stop of schooling for some of these children at an age when they should be continuing school in preparation of entry into tertiary institutions. From the year 2005 through 2007, 71 recipients sat for the Junior Certificate (junior high school leaving) examination. Informal reports show that only a few were able to get scholarships to proceed to senior high school while most were unable to. In 2008, 54 recipients aged out after sitting for their final junior high school examination.
The other component of the program is to provide mentoring with a focus on HIV/AIDS mitigation and prevention to recipients through HIV/AIDS education workshops that are held twice a year.
2. Democracy and Human Rights Development Fund (DHRF)
In FY07 under this program, one HIV/AIDS support group particularly addressed the fundamental rights and needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). The workshops also indirectly targeted community members and relatives who are taking care of the OVC. The children were from ages six (6) to 13 and were taught over the school holidays. This came about especially as some of the incumbents are family headers in the absence of parents or living with relatives who are either unknowingly or purposely ignoring these childrens rights. The children were equipped with the knowledge of legal instruments that they can use when the pressures become unbearable.
3. Ambassadors HIV/AIDS Community Grants
Post received $75,000 of FY08 funding from PEPFAR and allocated these monies to 14 HIV/AIDS support groups and charitable organizations that started income-generating activities. Projects are supposed to be sustainable so that with the proceeds thereof, support will be provided to both OVC and HIV/AIDS infected and affected in their communities. The groups have pledged to support the following needs of the OVC: nutrition, clothing, education, shelter, protection, and general health care. The Embassy staff follows up to ensure that this transpires.
4. Ambassadors Special Self-Help
This program serves primarily as a catalyst to enable projects to succeed with consideration given to those that:
·Improve the basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level;
·Support high impact, quick implementation (within one year) activities that benefit a large number of people;
·Involve a significant local contribution in cash, labor or material and are within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain; and
·Are a direct response to the initiative and aspirations of the local community who will also usually be its primary beneficiaries.
The following are examples of projects that would be acceptable.
·That ensure broadly accessible, reliable and economically sustainable water and sanitation services for health, security, and prosperity (not issues directly relating to agriculture or household level);
·That assist special populations which may be vulnerable or at-risk on a temporary or chronic basis such as the disabled, orphans, children and at-risk youth, ethnic minorities, the elderly, female heads of households, or other socially excluded groups; and
·That serves to provide social assistance.
The Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program started in 2000 in Lesotho under the Education for Development & Democracy Initiative (EDDI) and awarded more than 500 scholarships. Four years later the Africa Education Initiative (AEI) followed to continue the objective of the program which is to improve educational opportunities for Africas children so that they may lead happier, healthier lives, and become more productive members of society. Following are the numbers of scholarships and monies awarded in Lesotho under the AEI.
In FY05/06 $65,886 was used to support 172 girls; 110 in primary and the rest in secondary school. In FY06/07 $91,057 was used to support 172 girls while in FY08 $170,290 was used in support of 172 girls and for the first time, 100 boys. In FY09, $135,798 is being used to support 122 girls and 93 boys (65 in primary & secondary and 28 herdboys). The recipients are supported from primary through junior high school. The two remaining years of high school before recipients can go to tertiary institutions are not funded under the program. This has meant an abrupt stop of schooling for some of these children at an age when they should be continuing school in preparation of entry into tertiary institutions. From the year 2005 through 2007, 71 recipients sat for the Junior Certificate (junior high school leaving) examination. Informal reports show that only a few were able to get scholarships to proceed to senior high school while most were unable to. In 2008, 54 recipients aged out after sitting for their final junior high school examination.
The other component of the program is to provide mentoring with a focus on HIV/AIDS mitigation and prevention to recipients through HIV/AIDS education workshops that are held twice a year.
2. Democracy and Human Rights Development Fund (DHRF)
In FY07 under this program, one HIV/AIDS support group particularly addressed the fundamental rights and needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). The workshops also indirectly targeted community members and relatives who are taking care of the OVC. The children were from ages six (6) to 13 and were taught over the school holidays. This came about especially as some of the incumbents are family headers in the absence of parents or living with relatives who are either unknowingly or purposely ignoring these childrens rights. The children were equipped with the knowledge of legal instruments that they can use when the pressures become unbearable.
3. Ambassadors HIV/AIDS Community Grants
Post received $75,000 of FY08 funding from PEPFAR and allocated these monies to 14 HIV/AIDS support groups and charitable organizations that started income-generating activities. Projects are supposed to be sustainable so that with the proceeds thereof, support will be provided to both OVC and HIV/AIDS infected and affected in their communities. The groups have pledged to support the following needs of the OVC: nutrition, clothing, education, shelter, protection, and general health care. The Embassy staff follows up to ensure that this transpires.
4. Ambassadors Special Self-Help
This program serves primarily as a catalyst to enable projects to succeed with consideration given to those that:
·Improve the basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level;
·Support high impact, quick implementation (within one year) activities that benefit a large number of people;
·Involve a significant local contribution in cash, labor or material and are within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain; and
·Are a direct response to the initiative and aspirations of the local community who will also usually be its primary beneficiaries.
The following are examples of projects that would be acceptable.
·That ensure broadly accessible, reliable and economically sustainable water and sanitation services for health, security, and prosperity (not issues directly relating to agriculture or household level);
·That assist special populations which may be vulnerable or at-risk on a temporary or chronic basis such as the disabled, orphans, children and at-risk youth, ethnic minorities, the elderly, female heads of households, or other socially excluded groups; and
·That serves to provide social assistance.
Future Plans:
Depending on the availability of funding, the U.S. Embassy plans to scale up these activities.
Funding:
US Government
This organisation's info updated on: Tue, Feb 16, 2010
If you would like to amend or add to the above information please contact info@sentebale.org
