"COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FUND" PROGRAM CONDUCTS ITS EIGHTH GRANT AWARDS CEREMONY

On February 29, U.S. Embassy, USAID and Save the Children representatives participated in the eighth and final Award Ceremony of Community Self Help Fund Grants. The Community Self-Help Fund is a U.S. Embassy Program designed to assist local communities implement small grassroots projects aimed at improvement of communities´ economic and social conditions. This program represents an innovative approach to community activism and international development by rewarding community groups who prove they can garner local resources and volunteer efforts to help improve their neighborhoods. The program requires that the local community provide at least twenty percent of the project´s resources.

The Community Self-Help Fund (CSHF) was launched in November 2003 and has proven to be a great success. Throughout the seven rounds, the program received 1,150 applications and provided around $949,000 in grants to 61 programs, which included such projects as educational, health and cultural facilities´ renovations and the restoration of potable and irrigation water pipelines in remote villages. More than 75,230 people directly benefited from the program throughout the seven rounds. Communities contributed on average 35% of the total projects cost in the form of money, materials and volunteer work.

Round 8 was announced in September 2007 through national and local media. Save the Children received 59 project proposals, of which 11 were short-listed and submitted to the U.S. Embassy for final selection of the winners. The Embassy´s Assistance Coordination Group selected 5 projects to be funded through the CSHF program. These include:

1. Renovation of Kindergarten in Arzakan Village, Kotayk Marz  ($20,331);
2. Improvement of Drinking Water System in Vahagni Village, Lori Marz  ($29,809);
3. Reconstruction of Potable Water System in Lernakert Village, Shirak Marz  ($27,667);
4. Renovation of Water and Sewage Systems in Chambarak Town, Gegharkunik Marz ($23,913);
5. Equipment of Children's Development Center in Ijevan Town, Tavush Marz  ($6,677).

The total CSHF contribution to these projects is USD108,397. Community contribution constitutes more than 52% of the total cost of the projects. The overall number of the projects´ direct beneficiaries is 3,033.

The Community Self-Help Fund is managed by USAID and implemented through Save the Children. For further information, please visit the U.S. Embassy assistance web page at http://www.usaid.am/main/en/129/ or the Save the Children web page at www.cshf.am.

Contact: Narine Bezirganyan
Public Relations Officer
Save the Children Armenia Country Office

2a Agatangeghos Str., 2nd Floor,
Yerevan 0023
Tel: 562-335, 562-283
Mobile: (093) 256-225
E-mail: narine@save.airnet.am
URL: http://www.cshf.am

U.S. Charge D'Affaires Joseph Pennington awards Community Self Help Fund grants

U.S. Charge D'Affaires Joseph Pennington congratulates the grantees