Grants from US help to keep children in school

THE US government on Monday donated nearly N$1,3 million to schools to help orphans and vulnerable children continue their studies.

The money will be provided as grants to communities and schools which will, in turn, provide the students with uniforms, books, school lunches and counselling. These funds will assist 5 005 children in 28 northern Namibian schools and communities.”To meet its development goals and counter the ravages of HIV-AIDS and other diseases, it is critical that Namibia have the means to keep these at-risk students in school,” said US Ambassador Joyce Barr.She was joined by Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, Deputy Minister of Education, at the ceremony which took place in Ongwediva.The Ministry of Education is the United States’ key partner in the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grant programme.The OVC grant programme is funded through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.Monday’s was the second set of grants donated by the United States in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.To date, the OVC programme has distributed N$1,78 million in grants to 39 schools and communities, which have allowed 6 370 at-risk pupils to continue their studies.Barr said the funding helps the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, as well as Namibian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith-based groups, to provide critical care and support services to more than 58 000 orphans and vulnerable children.”Our assistance is targeted to meet the urgent, short-term needs of these children,” she said.These funds will assist 5 005 children in 28 northern Namibian schools and communities.”To meet its development goals and counter the ravages of HIV-AIDS and other diseases, it is critical that Namibia have the means to keep these at-risk students in school,” said US Ambassador Joyce Barr.She was joined by Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, Deputy Minister of Education, at the ceremony which took place in Ongwediva.The Ministry of Education is the United States’ key partner in the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grant programme.The OVC grant programme is funded through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.Monday’s was the second set of grants donated by the United States in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.To date, the OVC programme has distributed N$1,78 million in grants to 39 schools and communities, which have allowed 6 370 at-risk pupils to continue their studies.Barr said the funding helps the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, as well as Namibian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith-based groups, to provide critical care and support services to more than 58 000 orphans and vulnerable children.”Our assistance is targeted to meet the urgent, short-term needs of these children,” she said.