Democracy and Human Rights Fund Program

September 26, 2006

Ambassador Symington presided this morning a ceremony to award grant to two djiboutian NGOs. The grant totaling $50.000 is given under the Democracy and Human Rights annual Fund Program.

The embassy is pleased to announce that Association Pour La Protection et Epanouissement de la Famille (APEF) and Volontaire d'Appui pour le Developpement Locale (VADEL) were each awarded a $25,000 grant. 

APEF was selected as a recipient for the grant because their project deals with Children Rights, which is an important issue in Djibouti.  They will organize workshops, awareness programs and exhibitions by children on the subject, resulting in a better awareness about Children Rights especially for parents and school teachers. 

VADEL was selected as a recipient for the grant because they cover Decentralization, a matter that is largerly misunderstood by Djiboutians.  They will organize street theatres on Decentralization in all the five districts of interior, resulting in a better comprehension about what is at stake,  which will lead in turn to an increased participation to the process of Decentralization.

The grantees  compliment each other as they work toward human, political an civil rights