Ambassador Milovanovic Congratulates Recipients of U.S. Embassy Bamako’s 2008 Self Help Grants

November 26, 2008

Ambassador Milovanovic Poses with Recipients of Embassy Bamako’s 2008 Self Help Grants

On November 26, Ambassador Milovanovic congratulated the recipients of three of Embassy Bamako’s 2008 Self Help Grants in a small ceremony at the Chancery.  This fund aims to assist small-scale development projects that improve basic socioeconomic conditions at the grassroots level.  A key part of the Self Help program is the requirement that the grantees be actively engaged in project conception, management, sustainability and financing. In 2007, Self Help funds were provided to Malians for projects as diverse as gardening, well construction, animal husbandry, school rehabilitation, and cereal banks.  This year’s projects, which total close to $20,000,  include the creation of a community garden in Segou, the construction of a cereal bank in Kayes, and a potable water project in Gao.  Present at the meeting were representatives of all three projects, including two Peace Corps volunteers who are helping these communities to implement these projects.