VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOR #0400/01 1420939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220939Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5777
INFO RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 5418

UNCLAS GABORONE 000400 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S, AF/EPS 
PRETORIA PLEASE PASS TO USAID/SOUTHERN AFRICA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID BC
SUBJECT: GABORONE SSHF STATUS REPORT FOR FY 2008 
 
¶1. Summary:  During FY 2008, Embassy Gaborone received an allocation 
of USD 40,000 for the Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund Program 
(SSHF).  Five projects were selected for funding according to SSHF 
selection criteria and Post objectives expressed in the Mission 
Strategic Plan.  Providing sewing equipment to help a women's group, 
assisting an agricultural program for a school for the blind and 
purchasing irrigation equipment to aid a community garden project in 
an increasingly arid part of Botswana are just some of the projects 
that the Mission supported this year.  Post estimates that 1330 
people will be assisted from October 2008 until September 2009, but 
this number is deceptively low.  The sewing project alone provides 
inexpensive uniforms to those working throughout Botswana and the 
school for the blind enrolls new students every year who will 
continue to benefit from the improvements to their agricultural 
program for years to come.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The Self-Help Coordinator for Botswana is Ronald Taylor.  He can 
be reached by phone at +267-395-3982, extension 2334 and via email 
at TaylorRM@state.gov. 
 
¶3. Project Details: 
 
Grantee Name: Tshesebe Outreach Project for Youth (TOP Banana) 
Agreement number: SSH-08-663-01 
Project Title: Sewing Revenue Project 
Amount of Grant: USD 9515.00 
Total Amount Advance Un-liquidated: USD 1289.73 
Description of Activity: Purchase six sewing machines to assist this 
community non-profit with the manufacture of basic clothing for the 
needy and to generate income by selling uniforms and safety vests to 
the increasing number of mine and factory employees in the area. 
The group assists those who are too poor to purchase clothing, the 
businesses benefit by purchasing quality products locally made that 
are less expensive than imports, and the organization becomes self 
sustaining. 
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 300 per year (150 men and 150 
women) 
Status of Project: Sewing machines are purchased and operational. 
Due to a favorable exchange rate last year, the organization 
received more money than the estimated and received approval from 
USAID Pretoria to spend the funds on other project related items. 
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008 
 
Grantee Name: Boiteko Trust 
Agreement number: SSH-08-663-02 
Project Title: Horticultural Project 
Amount of Grant: USD 8650.00 
Total Amount Advance Un-liquidated: USD 4230.91 
Description of Activity: Purchase of water holding tank, irrigation 
equipment, and shade netting to assist with the development of a 
community agricultural project.  All of the labor is supplied by the 
local community to decrease costs, increase the amount of the grant 
that is spent on durable goods, to conduct trainings on construction 
principles, and how to maintain properly the project once it is 
completed.  The community has little farmable land and all produce 
is imported, which is expensive.  With this grant, the Trust was 
able to develop the land to teach the community how to grow fruits 
and vegetables.  The project now provides local produce to the 
community at a reduced cost, which has helped the Boiteko Trust to 
expand their outreach programs to assist others in the area. 
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 160 men and 160 women, Total 320 
Status of Project: The irrigation portion of the project is 
completed and the shade structure is under construction but is not 
complete.  Due to a favorable exchange rate last year, the 
organization received more money than estimated and has received 
approval from USAID Pretoria to spend the funds on other project 
related items. 
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008 
 
Grantee Name: Love Botswana Outreach Mission 
Agreement number: SSH-08-663-03 
Project Title: Women's Economic Empowerment Orchard Program 
Amount of Grant: USD 6950.00 
Total Amount Advance Un-liquidated: USD 4818.73 
Description of Activity: Purchase of raw materials for a shade 
structure, garden tools, irrigation equipment, and hardware to 
expand an agricultural project in Maun.  The project was developed 
and is cultivated by unemployed women in the area.  Love Botswana 
uses the plot to provide training to the women. This project also 
offers the trainees a source of income from selling some of the 
produce they cultivate and it provides another source of 
nourishment.  Some of the profits from selling produce to the local 
community have funded classes for disadvantaged women in the area in 
topics like; financial management, parenting skills, HIV/AIDS, and 
other health related topics. 
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 100 males and 250 females, total 
350 people 
Status of Project: The shade structure is erected and the irrigation 
system is under construction.  The group has had difficulty finding 
a reliable supplier for the gardening equipment and is still waiting 
for delivery of those items.  Due to a favorable exchange rate last 
year, the organization received more money than estimated and 
received approval from USAID Pretoria to spend the funds on other 
project related items. 
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008 
 
Grantee Name: Motswedi Rehabilitation Centre 
Agreement number: SSH-08-633-04 
Project Title: Garden Expansion 
Amount of Grant: USD 8250.00 
Total Amount Advance Un-liquidated: USD 5652.12 
Description of Activity: Purchase shade netting, supports, hardware, 
garden tools, and irrigation equipment to assist a rehabilitation 
center for the disabled in expanding their existing garden plot. 
The plot serves as a training ground for the students in proper 
agricultural techniques.  The food harvested is used to feed those 
attending the school and any excess is sold to the local community 
to generate income for the center. 
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 80 men and 80 women, total 160 
Status of Project: The shade structure is completed and the 
irrigation portion is still under construction.  Sadly, the director 
for this project passed away unexpectedly and the project lay 
dormant, but recent contact has shown that the project is again 
moving forward. 
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008 
 
Grantee Name: Pudulogong Rehabilitation and Development Trust for 
the Blind 
Agreement number: SSH-08-633-05 
Project Title: Shade Structure 
Amount of Grant: USD 6635.00 
Total Amount Advance Un-liquidated: USD 579.41 
Description of Activity: Purchase of wooden vertical supports and 
shade netting to build a shade structure and for gardening 
equipment.  The Pudulogong Center educates visually impaired 
students on the science and practical aspects of several different 
disciplines.  In the agricultural department, the students learn to 
cultivate food for personal use and are prepared to work in the 
agriculture trade.  The center uses alternative teaching methods to 
address the needs of the visually impaired.  The center uses the 
food grown in the project to feed the students attending classes and 
sells any additional food to the local community.  Due to a 
favorable exchange rate last year, the organization received more 
money than estimated and received approval from USAID Pretoria to 
spend the funds on other project related items. 
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries: 100 men and 100 women, total 200 
Status of Project: Shade structure is complete and they have 
received their tools. They are waiting for quotes to liquidate the 
remaining amount. 
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008 
 
¶4. Although grantees did not receive their funds until December 
2008, Post is working with all grantees to enable monies to be 
liquidated on or before September 30, 2009. 
 
NOLAN