United States Ambassador Thomas F. Daughton officially opened the newly expanded Orange Babies Computer Lab in Rehoboth. The computer lab is one of five grassroots initiatives the U.S. Embassy is supporting through the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund this year. The fund awarded a total of US$ 47,000 (approx. N$518,000) to five projects in the Erongo, Hardap, Ohangwena, Omaheke, and Omusati regions. The projects promote livelihood development, access to clean water, and educational program support.
Ambassador Daughton presided over the opening ceremony and congratulated the residents of Rehoboth and Orange Babies Foundation for developing this innovative program that emphasizes the importance of education and training. Orange Babies Computer Lab is an off-shoot of an HIV/AIDS support center aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment through computer skills training for women, youth, and at-risk populations. The computer lab provides introductory level classes in computer basics, computer keyboarding, and Microsoft Word.
Self-Help funding of the Orange Babies Computer Lab deepens the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to promoting economic prosperity and the success of the Namibian people. The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with the committed staff of the Orange Babies Computer Lab who are taking the steps to make a difference in their community.
The U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund is a grassroots assistance program that provides financing for small, community-based projects that are initiated and administered at the local level. Projects generally include significant contributions in cash, labor, or materials from the local community and are expected to be self-sustaining. The Special Self-Help Fund, operating in Namibia since 1990, has provided nearly N$19 million in funding to community-based development projects throughout the country.
For additional information about the Self-Help Small Grants Fund, please visit the U.S. Embassy web site.
