COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FUND PROGRAM SUB-GRANTS’ SUBMISSION OFFICIAL EVENT

Panorama.am
16:17 04/04/06

On April 4, 2006 at 2 PM the official submission of sub-grants to the
winners of the Community-Self-Help Fund Program’s (CSHF) 4th round
will take place at the conference room of the United States Embassy in
Yerevan (address: 1 American Avenue). Mr. Anthony Godfrey, Deputy Chief
of Mission, representatives of the US Embassy, USAID, Save the Children
as well as 7 sub-grantee organizations will participate in the event.

The Community Self-Help Fund program is sponsored by the United
States Embassy and USAID and implemented by Save the Children which
provides expert technical assistance for program implementation. CSHF
aims at improvement of basic economic and social conditions of the
communities through provision of small grants to local communities’
on-going projects. Since November 2003, twice a year Save the Children
has announced calls for proposals inviting interested community
organizations to apply for small grants.

Round 4 was announced in November 2005 through national and local
media. Save the Children received 141 project proposals of which 20
were shortlisted and submitted to the US Embassy for final selection
of the winners. The Embassy’s Assistance Coordination Group selected
7 projects to be funded through the CSHF program. The projects include
renovation of kindergartens, health clinics, youth club and playground
and will be implemented in Yerevan and Vayots Dzor, Syunik and Kotayk
marzes. The total cost of these projects is USD 94,748. The overall
number of the projects’ direct beneficiaries is 14,000. In addition,
200 people will be actively involved in project works.

Throughout 1st to 3rd rounds of CSHF program, 33 projects in Armenia
have been funded resulting upgrade of kindergartens, schools, health
posts and hospitals, village bridges, irrigation and drinking water
systems. The projects have played vital role for the residents of
communities by encouraging self-help initiatives. In total, 33,477
people (including those actively involved in project works) directly
benefited from the program throughout three rounds. Communities have
contributed around 30% of the projects’ cost providing volunteer
labor and donated materials.

* * * Save the Children is the leading independent nonprofit relief and
development organization helping children in need in the United States
and in more than 40 countries around the world. Save the Children
started operating in Armenia in 1993. Since then the organization
has implemented numerous projects to help children and families in
need. We have been working with local communities through invested
funding and expertise in the areas of humanitarian relief and refugees,
community development, NGO capacity building, children and youth,
health, education, economic opportunities, conflict resolution and
tolerance building.