12 Nov 2023

The Botswana Association for the Deaf (BOAD), Dare To Dream Foundation, and Jamataka Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited are this year’s recipients of  the United States Ambassador to Botswana’s Special Self Help Grants totalling  P750 000.

BOAD and Jamataka Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited received more than P271 000 each while Dare To Dream Foundation got over P203 000 .

Explaining the objective of the programme, during the signing ceremony with the beneficiaries recently, the US Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Howard Van Vranken said the initiative was a grassroots assistance programme that supported communities throughout the country.

Ambassador Van Vranken pointed out that the programme represented the US government’s ongoing commitment to support development activities at the local level.

“Through the programme, we provide targeted grants to assist short term, community-driven projects that improve economic and social conditions with immediate impact on the livelihoods of Batswana. It is one of my favourite assistance programmes because it strives to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects,” he said.

 Ambassador Van Vranken said the programme empowered communities to be self-reliant and built their capacity to undertake similar activities on their own in the future. 

The Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund criteria: Applicants must be legally registered not-for-profit groups, associations, non-governmental organisations, or community-based organisations, with a history of operating for at least one year. They are also required to demonstrate strong ties and support from their local community and governmental bodies. Most importantly, the US Ambassador stressed that the proposed projects must be well planned, ready to be implemented, self-sustaining once completed, and aligned with US government's priorities in Botswana.

He said nearly 100 grant proposals were received this year, and therefore commended the Botswana organisations for demonstrating strong commitment to their communities and to collaborating with the US government.  

The executive director BOAD, Ms Shirley Keoagile told BOPA that  said the US funding support would enable BOAD to conduct five open regional sign language training workshops in Serowe, Shakawe, Bobonong, Maun, and Francistown.

Ms Keoagile said the five workshops were meant to equip participants with vital sign language skills, enabling them to communicate effectively and access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Jamataka Multi-Purpose Community Cooperative chairperson, Mr Masedi Mosako said the funding would help the cooperative to create a self-sustaining community agricultural initiative managed by the public that utilises clean, natural energy. 

Since the cooperative sells some of its produce to Jamataka Primary School, Mr Mosako said this would help uplift the pupil's nutritional intake, thereby contribute to better learning outcomes, as well as support community development initiatives through income from its direct sales.

Dare To Dream Foundation founder, Captain Kgomotso Phatshima, said the grant would enable the foundation to deliver on its mandate to advance the youth, women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Entrepreneurship as well as introduce Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to learners. END