The U.S. Embassy today honored six Samoan organizations and two individuals at a Grantee Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy Residence in Vailima.  These organizations received funding from the Embassy’s 2020 Public Diplomacy Grants program as well as other funding support.  The individuals will be participating in United States Exchange Programs, such as the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program.

Embassy Apia’s Public Diplomacy Grants Program is a small competitive program offering grants of up to USD 10,000 to local non-government organizations to strengthen democracy, engage youth, promote U.S.-Samoa links, address environmental and health issues, advance science and technology, increase respect for civil society and the rule of law, advance human rights and women’s rights.  The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program offers one opportunity to Samoa on a bi-annual basis and is open to graduates interested to pursue a Master’s Degree, Ph.D. or research of up to 12 months at a U.S.-based affiliated academic institution.

1. Artificial Reefs and Mangroves Samoa Inc. – Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme
2. 1Touch Ministry –  Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme
3. Samoa Chamber of Commerce – Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme
4. Samoa Association of Sign Language Interpreters – Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme
5. Samoa Women’s Association of Growers – Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme
6. Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture – American Spaces Support Fund
7. Moeumu Uili – Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship
8. Luafata Simanu – American English – E-Teacher

Brief Grantee and Project Descriptions

1. Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme

Artificial Reefs and Mangroves Samoa Inc.

• The Incorporation aims to deploy additional artificial reefs in low reef areas and to conduct awareness programs for children on the importance of protecting coral reefs and mangroves in Samoa. The Incorporation noted that the concept was bourne from the Reef Ball Foundation in Florida, USA and will work towards using its methods and research to carry out its activities.

1Touch Ministry

• 1Touch aims to help the people of Samoa make transformations in body, mind and spirit. It is a health focus program that concentrates on promoting and advocating healthy living and making informed decisions about health. The program consists of healthy eating promotions and awareness and physical exercises to combat non-communicable diseases. Through its bootcamp style of exercise 1Touch aims to push the importance of exercise as it was established in 1983 in the U.S. military.

Samoa Chamber of Commerce

• Utilizing its strong ties to the United States Chamber of Commerce. The Incorporation aims to conduct a workshop that will inspire young Samoans to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 in their communities through social entrepreneurship proving just how innovative and resilient young people are.

Samoa Association of Sign Language Interpreters

• The Association aims to assist the deaf and hard-of-hearing community through increased awareness and access to information.  With the focus on ensuring health related information is made available to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.  Incorporating the use of various sign languages such as American, Australian and British. The Association also aims to create workshops to teach basic sign language skills to the public, to build communication for all communities.

 

Samoa Women’s Association of Growers

• The Association aims to build the capacity of its members and village participants through workshops on medicinal and vegetarian indigenous plants, furthermore, to identify how participants can maximize their production to earn income, utilizing American preservative techniques.  As SWAG’s overall aim is to promote and provide women growers and farmers of Samoa with opportunities for business, networking, training, expanding knowledge, accessing local and international markets.

1. American Spaces Support Fund

Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture – American Corner

• This project aims to assist the literacy & numeracy needs of children utilizing the American Corner.  The intended programs and activities will continue great cultural programming for adults, students, and children.

1. Exchange Programs:

Moeumu Uili – Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship

• The Fulbright Foreign Student Program allows citizens of other countries to the United States for study at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions and offers program participants insight into U.S. society and values.  The Fulbright grantee is given to pursue a Master’s Degree, Ph.D. or research of up to 12 months at a U.S.-based affiliated academic institution.

Luafata Simanu – American English – E-Teacher

• The American English E-Teacher Program offers up to eight weeks of online university-level courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) developed by U.S. educational institutions.  Courses are designed for teachers on content-based instructions (CBI) courses in English.  These courses present teachers with the challenge of balancing the teaching of both language and content through a series of practical, hands-on activities and theoretical information, preparing participants for future decision-making and problem-solving in the area of CBI.