Windhoek- The United States of America Embassy in Namibia has once again affirmed its commitment towards community development when it awarded 34 grants, worth N$2.2 Million to Self-Help community based organisations in Namibia.

The initiative forms part of the US embassy‘s Self Help annual programme to serve community based projects that are income generating to further create income to sustain themselves and their communities. 

Dennise Matthieu, the US ambassador to Namibia said the programme has been present in Namibia since independence. 

“The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Programme is unique because it allows the United States to respond directly to the needs of local communities at the grassroots level,” Matthieu said.

Last year’s recipient, Katrina Kasita of the Mount Sinai Centre in Katutura told the audience as well as the new recipients at the awarding ceremony what the grant meant to her and the people of Mount Sinai Centre.

“Before I came to Mount Sinai my life was very much worse and difficult. I thought of things that were not good due to my HIV status. I want to thank the US ambassador for giving us such an opportunity”, said Kasita.

The Mount Sinai Centre cares for mothers who are HIV positive and unable to properly take care of themselves. The centre is also the custodian of skills and knowledge to these women and their children as they are taught to be productive.

“We were taught for free and I was able to acquire skills and knowledge. I am now able to help my child and myself”, said Kasita.

The US embassy donated kitchen equipment to the centre last year where 27 beneficiaries and volunteers were able to sustain themselves. 

One of this year’s beneficiaries, Josephine Kene hails from the Hardap region. She is the supervisor of the Ada Huigu Otto Xamseb pre-primary school which cares for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Rehoboth’s urban east area. “I am very happy and I don’t know how to express my joy”, she said. She said the money will be used to start projects that will assist those who cannot help themselves. 

Namibia’s Member of Parliament Alexia Manombe-Ncube who gave the keynote address called on the grantees to put their money to good use and to conduct their projects in a sustainable way.