The Embassy of the United States of America, under the Ambassador’s Special Self-help SSH program, yesterday awarded US$40,000.00 to ten community projects all over The Gambia. The SSH is a grassroots assistance program that allows the U.S embassy to respond relatively quickly to local requests from small community based development projects.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, held at the Embassy grounds along Kairaba Avenue, Mr Brian Bachman, Charge d’ Affairs at the Embassy, described the programme as unique among their programmes as it’s designed and initiated by the communities themselves. The programs also involve their active participation.  “No one knows the needs of the communities better than themselves,” he said. He revealed that they received a lot of applications but only ten, which they feel are the best, were selected.

In his welcoming address, Mr Janko Fofana Programs Coordinator, said signing of the contract agreement is the beginning of partnership between the Embassy and the beneficiary communities as it defines their various roles and responsibilities in implementing the projects. He urged the benefactors to see the projects as theirs and to fully participate in the implementation process.

He said that the program is an ongoing one as they sponsor different projects in various communities across the country upon the receipt of requests from communities.

Meanwhile, this years beneficiary communities included support to all-school Tree Nursery competition 2006/2007, provision of coos milling machine for Kuntair VDC, construction of Cereal Bank in Panchang Madi Fana, Fencing of Dongoroba Lower Basic School, purchase of power tiller for Kudang village, and milling machine for the women group in Sohm and Rice Dehusking machine to Kinteh Kunda Janeya.

At the end of the signing ceremony representatives of beneficiary groups, journalists and the Charge d’ Affairs were led on for a group photo by Mr Papa Njie Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs Assistant at the US Embassy. This was followed by refreshments.