The U.S Ambassador to Lesotho Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, joint by Acting Minister of Social Development Honorable Temeki T’solo and Deputy Minister of Education and Training Honorable ‘Maphoka Motoboli, officially awarded grants worth approximately 3.6 million Maloti to three community-based organizations, eight schools and four civic organizations at the U.S Embassy Residences in Maseru on Monday 23rd September 2019.

Speaking during the event, Ambassador Gonzales said it is her pleasure to award these investment grants, which she said through them the U.S is deeply committed to a more than half century of partnership with Lesotho.

She said she uses the word “investment” because these grants are designed to support Basotho-led efforts which address issues ranging from education to income generation and civic engagement.

Ambassador Gonzales indicated that these grants are supported by the U.S President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Small Grants Program, the U.S Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, and Public Diplomacy Grants respectively.

Three grants totaling more than M925 000 were also awarded for public diplomacy activities, as part of the Know Your Rights, Know Your Obligations and Know Your People campaign.

Grantees included BAM Group Foundation, Sesotho Media and Development, and Transformation Resource Centre (TRC).