The US Embassy awarded grants to 20 Namibian community groups, making N$595,000 available for income-generating projects throughout Namibia on Wednesday. Chargé d’Affaires Eric Benjaminson presented the awards on behalf of Ambassador Joyce Barr. The US Ambassador’s Self-Help Programme supports job creation and income-generating activities, as well as projects that improve the social conditions of community members and socially vulnerable groups. Introduced in 1990, the programme provided about N$11 million to over 285 community-based development projects in Namibia. This is the first year it has funded projects to assist in the fight against AIDS. The 20 projects to receive grants in 2005 are:

Doeses Community Sewing Centre (Swakopmund, Erongo) N$12,000

Kondjashili Bead Making Project (Henties Bay, Erongo) N$ 7,800

Meme Itumbapo Brick Making Project (Lüderitz, Karas) N$66,000

Tinkerbell Daycare Centre (Krönlein, Karas) N$24,000

Getting African Instruments to Namibian Schools (Khomasdal) N$25,800

Elephant Craft Centre (Katutura, Khomas) N$42,000

Tallismanus Community Kindergarten (Tallismanus, Omaheke) N$ 6,000

S&T Project (Epalela, Omusati) N$33,000

Oshikoto Regional ECD Centre (Oshikoto) N$24,000

Skills Village (Tsumkwe, Otjozondjupa) N$30,000

Kunene Craft Centre (Opuwo, Kunene) N$48,000

Tree Sleeper Camp (Tsintsabis, Oshikoto) N$66,000

Community Vegetable and Fruit (Omusati) N$25,800

Swakop Knitters (Swakopmund, Erongo) N$15,600

Children of Zion Village (Namwi Island, Caprivi) N$40,800

Serenity Kiddies Club (Rehoboth, Hardap) N$19,200

Kavango Bridges of Hope (Rundu, Kavango) N$30,000

Empowerment of HIV/Women (Oshana Region) N$27,600

TOV Multipurpose Centre (Tsumeb, Oshikoto) N$16,800

Okahandja Home-Based Caregivers (Okahandja, Otjozondjupa) N$35,400