2006 Grant Recipients of the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program 

Through its Small Projects Office, the U.S. Embassy is currently providing 70,200 USD (677,040 ETB) in support to eight Special Self-Help projects that are benefiting 187,700 persons in five regions of Ethiopia. Read below to learn about these worthy projects.

Roof Water Harvesting Structure Construction
Denbi Kebele, Borena Zone, Oromia Region

The water harvested from school building roofs will piped into the cistern for use by the students and community.

Inadequate potable water is a critical problem in lower-lying areas such as Moyale district in the extreme southern part of Oromia Region, where annual rainfall is minimal.  The only surface water sources are hand-dug ponds that contain algae, dung, leeches or other contaminants, and dry up during the dry season.  Children in Denbi Kebele are especially affected as the time they spend fetching water for their families prevents them from going to school. Those who do attend Denbi School are forced to do without drinking water the entire day.  This project aims to remedy the situation by developing in the school compound an accessible and safe water supply for the students and surrounding community. The estimated number of beneficiaries is 3,000 (mostly students and the school community). The U.S. contribution to this project is 8,850 USD, while the local contribution is 1,387.28 USD and volunteer labor. 

 

Shower and Toilet Construction for Orphans
Mekelle Town, Tigray Region
 

Construction of the toilet and shower facilities at Mekelle 3rd Child Care Center is well underway.

The Mekelle 3rd Child Care Center was established in 1985 to care for children who were orphaned and made vulnerable by severe drought and prolonged war.  Currently, the center nurtures 200 children and helps guide them toward productive lives.  However, insufficient toilet and shower facilities have made it increasingly difficult to provide adequate care for the children. This project is designed to upgrade the center’s sanitation and, hence, improve the health of the orphans and vulnerable children residing there.  The estimated number of beneficiaries is 200 children. The U.S. contribution to this project is 5,900 USD while water for construction and three-month coverage of a foreman’s salary are being provided by the local community. 

Gonjit River Bridge Construction
Yaya Gulele and Debre Libanos Peasant Associations, North Shoa Zone, Oromia Region

This plaque at the Gonjit River Bridge construction site commemorates U.S. Embassy support.

The absence of a bridge over Gonjit River has stagnated socio-economic activity in the area and posed a serious obstacle to development initiatives. Due to the area’s inaccessibility, schools, health care facilities and other services are non-existent.  During the rainy season when the river is impassable, pregnant women and the sick are unable to obtain needed medical care. Thus, construction of the Gonjit River Bridge will both facilitate development activities and ensure access to vital services. Approximately 25,000 rural and urban residents are beneficiaries of this project. The U.S. Contribution to this project is 9,850 USD while the local contribution is 7,892.49 USD and volunteer labor.

     

Construction of Antenatal and Obstetric Wards 
Moyale Town, Moyale District, Oromia Region

Construction of the new wards will increase the community’s access to antenatal, prenatal, delivery and postnatal services.

Despite the increased demand for the medical services it provides, Moyale Health Center has not been expanded since its establishment in 1971. The center provides medical care for nearly 87,000 patients and serves as a referral unit for about 200,000 people living within a 150-kilometer radius.  This project aims to increase the community’s access to antenatal, prenatal, delivery and postnatal services, and improve the quality of care the center provides overall. More than 200,000 people in Moyale and neighboring woredas are beneficiaries of this project. The U.S. contribution to this project is 9,800 USD while local contribution is volunteer labor.  

 

Grinding Mill Purchase and Installation
Thatha Village, Gilo Woreda, Gambella Region
 
During an incident that occurred in December 2003, all the grinding mills in Anuak Zone were looted, forcing women to walk 25 to 50 kilometers to have their corn, millet and other grains ground. Along the journey, some women were raped, putting them at risk for HIV/AIDS. The loss of grinding mills has also meant that girls in the affected villages are unable to attend school because they have to stay home to pound grain. Therefore, this project aims to make it easier for women to fulfill their food preparation responsibilities, protect them from sexual violence and HIV/AIDS, and prevent girls from dropping out of school. The estimated number of beneficiaries is 410 people. The U.S. Contribution to this project is 10,000 USD while the local contribution is 797 USD.

Construction of Underground Water Tank
Delashe and Dulshitalo Kebeles, Kurmuk Woreda, Beneshangul-Gumuz region

Water availability is a serious problem in this area located in southwestern Ethiopia near the Sudanese border, where the climate is extremely hot and dry.  To get drinking water, local residents rely on the hit-or-miss strategy of digging for water in dry riverbeds. And as in many communities across Ethiopia, it is women and girls who bear responsibility for securing water for their families.  This project seeks to provide safe, accessible water that eases the burden placed on women and girls, and improves the quality of life for the entire community. The estimated number of beneficiaries is 5,000 people. The U.S. Contribution to this project is 9,100 USD while the local contribution is 32,160 hours of volunteer labor.

  
 
Furnishing Deneb Gudo Primary School
Jaju Woreda, Oromia Region

Adequate facilities and equipment are key to fostering learning but schools in many rural communities suffer from poor infrastructure.  At the Deneb Gudo Primary School, 1,385 parents signed a petition requesting grant support to purchase school furniture, demonstrating the value these parents place on education. This project seeks to promote not only education but also the community development that education makes possible. The estimated number of beneficiaries is 1,800 schoolchildren. The U.S. contribution to this project is 6,800 USD while the local contribution is 462.53 USD.

 

Jaragedo Elementary School Expansion
Estie Woreda, South Gonder Administration Zone, Amhara Region

Without any expansion or renovation, Jaragedo Elementary School was upgraded to junior level in 1988 and now accommodates 1,750 students in grades 1 through 8.  On average, 120 students at a time fill the old classrooms, few of which have furniture.  The fact that few schools exist in and around the target area leaves students few options.  In addition, the number of dropouts is increasing because of the poor facilities. Thus, this project seeks to improve the ability of Jaragedo Elementary School to meet the needs of its students. Each year approximatly 2,000 students will benefit from this project and 11,000 people will benefit indirectly.  The U.S. contribution is 9,900 USD while the local contribution is 14,242.20 USD.