Government Ministries and eight local non-governmental organisations received funds of ST$10,000 to $12,000 from the United States of America in a grantee gathering yesterday.
The U.S. Embassy Apia’s 2016 Public Diplomacy Grants offers funds to strengthen democracy, engage youth and alumni, promote US-Samoa links, address climate change and health concerns, and the advancement of human rights and women’s rights.
The grantee gathering was conducted at the U.S. Embassy Residence at Vailima where the US Chargé d’Affaires, Mrs Angelina Wilkinson executed the presentations.
The ten grantees are the:
· Ministry of Agriculture – Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) for ‘Identifying cocoa cultivars through DNA sequencing’
· Samoa National Youth Council (SNYC) for their International Youth Day 2016 commemoration;
· Nobesity Samoa for “The Nobesity Samoa Sugar-Free Week”
· Samoa Alliance of Media Practitioner for Development (SAMPOD) for “Reporting on sensitive issues involving women and minority groups”
· Rugby Academy Samoa for their project to develop rugby skills and recovery habits in a managed and fun environment;
· Samoa Faafafine Association for their Samoa’s Annual Faafafine and National Faafafine Week in December;
· Soifua Manuia Samoa for their awareness programmes, eduation and rehabilitation that relates to methamphetamine addiction;
· Filet685 Productions for their work that involves theatre shows and film production and provide an avenue of expression for our local youth and aspiring actors;
· Ministry of Education – Nelson Memorial Library for their “American Corner” with free internet service;
· Future Leaders of the Pacific 2016 candidate – Ms. Rachel Tomoniko who represented Samoa at the Future Leaders of the Pacific conference in Hawaii this year.
In her keynote address, Wilkinson said Samoa and the United States share important values such as democracy, religious freedom, fair economic opportunity, and human rights to name a few.
“We consider it a privilege being able to continuously lend a helping hand to the Samoan community,” she said.
“At regional and international levels, our countries work together to protect the environment and fisheries, to promote sustainable economic development in the Pacific regions, and to strengthen the tenets of democracy and human rights.”