Ambassador Swan Djibouti tour (11/22/08)

 

Ambassador Swan with the Sultan of Tadjourah, Abdoulkhader Houmed Mohamed

U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti James Swan visited several towns in Djibouti November 19 and 22.  On November 19 the Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Tadjourah, Mr. Abdoulkhader Houmed Mohamed and the Prefect, Mr. Abdoulrazak Daoud, as well as the President of the Tadjourah Regional Council, Mr. Daoud Alwan Daoud.  While in Tadjourah, Ambassador Swan donated books to two institutions supported by USAID and the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund: a Children’s Library and the Center for Teacher Training.  During the same trip, Ambassador Swan also visited a Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Civil Affairs project which rehabilitated dormitories and a cantina at the local Tadjourah high school.

 

Ambassador Swan with Colonel Cher, Admiral Greene and the President of the Obock Regional Council tour of new pier facility.

On the 22nd, Ambassador Swan and CJTF-HOA commander Rear Admiral Philip Greene visited the new naval pier facility in Obock.  Paid for with US government funds, the pier will dramatically increase the effective range of the Djiboutian Navy and is expected to be dedicated in January of 2009.  In addition to the pier, the project includes construction of naval offices and billeting space, upgrades to a commercial pier, and donations of naval vessels, training, and maritime surveillance equipment.  Along with Colonel Abdourahman Aden Cher, Commander of the Djiboutian Navy, Ambassador Swan, Admiral Greene, the deputy Prefect of Obock and the President of the Obock Regional Council reviewed progress in implementing the project.  . 

 

Next, Ambassador Swan visited the tri-border region at Guistir to witness a CJTF-HOA medical civil affairs project.  Working closely with the Djiboutian Ministries of Health and Defense and coordinated through USAID, these projects bring routine medical and dental care to remote areas not serviced by existing healthcare infrastructure.  The final visit of the day was a stop in Ali-Sabieh, to include meetings with local officials and visit to the site of a planned assistance project.

 

Project for Peace Rebuilds Wells in Dorra (08/17/08)

Ambassador Symington and Stuart Symington with Dorra community members.

The Kathryn Wasserman Davis Project for Peace awarded Stuart Symington, son of Ambassador Symington, a grant to rebuild wells in the northern Dorra region this summer.

Coordinating closely with the U.S. Embassy Self-Help program and with the local Rohati Association, the team rebuilt two wells in Molhole and will be rebuilding one more in Balho in the coming weeks.  A highlight of the project was the meeting with community members after the completion of the wells in Molhole who expressed their appreciation and thanks, both to the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Project and the U.S. Embassy Self-Help program for their support.  The wells will significantly increase and facilitate access to water in the surrounding villages for nearly 250 families and 4,000 livestock.

Government of djibouti decorated USAID/Djibouti representative, as an 'Officier de l'ordre du 27 juin' (07/10/08)

Ms Janet Schulman receiving her decoration  from Prime Minister HE Dileita Mohamed on July 10, 2008.

On July 10, 2008, Ms Janet Schulman, USAID Djibouti Representative, was decorated as “Officier de l’Ordre National du 27 juin” by the Prime Minister HE Dileita Mohamed Dileita on behalf of the President.  This is the highest honor the government can bestow upon a private citizen. 

Ms. Schulman has been the Director of USAID in Djibouti since January 2004.  In addition to her major responsibilities for developing and supervising USAID funded programs with Government of Djibouti, she also served as a liaison between the CJTF-HOA Civil Affairs Unit and the Government of Djibouti ministries in all development projects.  Janet’s implementation of USAID programming in Education, Maternal and Child health, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Good Governance, and Food Security has impacted the entire country.  In particular, USAID led programs rehabilitated the rural health care system and dramatically increased child enrollment in primary education.  Her outstanding work has been recognized multiple times by the U.S. government; she has received three meritorious honor awards, including one from the State Department, and four cash awards for her work in managing the USAID programs in Djibouti.

Ms Schulman will depart Djibouti at the end of July 2008 and will be replace by Ms Stephanie Funk in mid September 2008.

U.S. Embassy Opens Health Clinic for for Rural Villagers (05/15/08)

Ambassador Stuart Symington and Minister Abdallah Abdillahi cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the new clinic in Assagueila

On May 15th Minister of Health Abdallah Abdillah, US Ambassador Stuart Symington and Dr. Paul Stanislas Nebie, Chief of Party of PECSE (USAID’s Extending Coverage and Improving the Quality of Essential Health Care Program) journeyed to Assegueila to open the newly constructed health clinic, one of the final 23 clinics to be opened. The whole village turned out to greet the dignitaries with traditional songs and dances.

USAID’s goals in Djibouti’s health sector are to increase access to health care, improve the quality of care and increase the capacity of the local people. In addition to constructing or renovating the 23 rural health clinics, USAID has trained over 550 health providers and community health workers and established a health information management system to collect data from health centers in the country.

Donation of Halal Meals and School Supplies for Djiboutian children (05/05/2008)

From left to right, Janet Schulman, USAID Representative, the acting Education Minister,  M.Rifki  Abdoulkader,the MOE General Secretary, M.Fathi Ahmed hamsan, H.E the US Ambassador, Stuart Symington  and the Head of General administration, Mme Saida Aboubaker

On May 5th, Ambassador, Stuart Symington accompanied by the DCM, Eric Wong and USAID representative, Janet Schulman, handed over 118,932 Halal Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) and 8,460 school supply kits to the Djiboutian Government.

The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Education Conference Room.  It was chaired by Minister of Education, Mr. Rifki Abdoulkader and attended by Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials from MOE.

The US Government donated the 118K MRE’s in response to a request from the Djiboutian Government for food aid as the country has been affected by recurrent drought.  The MRE’s represent over 51,000 Halal meals and will be distributed in school canteens throughout rural areas affected by the drought and in the suburbs of Djibouti City.  The Halal meals will be consumed as food supplements by students especially during the exam period.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints donated the school kits which will be distributed to disadvantaged school children in the suburbs and remote rural areas.  Each kit contained enough essential school supplies like notebooks, pencils, and erasers to last one academic year.  The kits are designed to reduce the financial burden of school supplies on poor families and encourage children to stay in school.

The Acting Minister appreciated the quick response by the US Government to address these pressing needs and reinforce US-Djiboutian bilateral cooperation.  He also expressed his gratitude to the America people for their gesture of solidarity with the people of Djibouti.

 

Djibouti Prime Minister decorates the Chief of Party of USAID Health Project (05/04/2008)

Dr Stanislas Nebie being decorated by Djibouti Prime Minister

Dr Stanislas Nebie, CoP has worked on the USAID health project since it began in mid 2004. The project consists of expanding essential health coverage in rural areas in Djibouti through:

1) improving access by rehabilitating and equipping all 23 health clinics in the rural areas

2) improving health service quality through training all health providers and supporting District Health Management teams and

3) enhancing local capacity by creating health committees and volunteer community health workers in all USAID assisted sites.

On May 5, in recognition of the significant work accomplished under the USAID project, President of Djibouti approved the decoration of Dr Stanislas Nebie with the National Order of 27th June. The decoration took place on May 5, 2008 at the Prime Minister’s office in the presence of Janet Schulman, the representative of USAID/Djibouti and other staff from the John Snow Inc. office the institution contracted to implement the project.

USAID Education Program Donates Books for Djibouti Primary Schools (04/23/08)

On April 23rd, USAID/Djibouti Representative Janet Schulman officially handed over almost 4,000 documentary books and printing equipment with a total value of $107,000 to CRIPEN (the National Research, Information and Production of the Ministry of Education).

These documentarybooks for the 4th and 5th graders have been provided to libraries throughout Djibouti

The ceremony coincided with the celebration of the World Book and Authors Day, and gathered USAID staff, implementing partners, a UNICEF Representative, ministry officials, and school directors. USAID support to CRIPEN is part of the USAID Education program to improve the quality of teaching and learning and reinforce the production capacity of CRIPEN. The books will be sent to libraries in all primary schools.

 

New Education Opportunity for Pre-Schoolers in Arta Region (04/16/08)

On April 16th, USAD/Djibouti’s Education Program launched its first pilot pre-school at Wea in Arta region for children under five years of age. The project, called "case de tout petits" which means “children’s corner”, is the first of its kind in a rural setting in Djibouti.

The pre-school is located in a rented building and caters to ten boys and fifteen girls in the current enrollment cycle. During the opening ceremony, Lamine Sow, Chief of Party of implementing partner Academy for Educational Development (AED), distributed toys donated by the US military.

The opening ceremony aired on national television and featured representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, members of the regional assembly, the Head of Wea Village, women’s association representatives, the French military, and AED staff.

The opening of a second pilot pre-school is scheduled in Obock region at the end of April. These schools will prepare children under 5 years, especially girls, for access to further education.

 

USAID Assists in Donation to Djibouti Orphanage Center (03/16/08)

On March 16th, Deputy Chief of Mission, Eric Wong, and USAID Representative to Djibouti, Janet Schulman, attended a handing over ceremony of donated goods from the Church of Latter-Day Saints at the Centre Aicha Bogoreh, an orphanage center.

The donated goods were shipped to Djibouti through the US military and transferred to USAID Djibouti, which stored the goods in a free zone warehouse to allow swift distribution to recipient institutions. A delegation of the newly elected parliamentary women also attended the ceremony.

The donated materials were intended for boarders at the center and consisted of 10 pallets of orphanage kits, 19 pallets of hygiene kits, 320 boxes of skimmed milk and 7 pallets of toys, amounting to a total cost of $150,000.

In her speech, the Center Director expressed her gratitude to the US government for the valuable support provided to the center. USAID previously supported this center through provision of materials for the education of children with disabilities.

USAID Education Program Donates Books for Djibouti Primary Schools (04/23/08)

On April 23rd, USAID/Djibouti Representative Janet Schulman officially handed over almost 4,000 documentary books and printing equipment with a total value of $107,000 to CRIPEN (the National Research, Information and Production of the Ministry of Education).

These documentarybooks for the 4th and 5th graders have been provided to libraries throughout Djibouti

The ceremony coincided with the celebration of the World Book and Authors Day, and gathered USAID staff, implementing partners, a UNICEF Representative, ministry officials, and school directors. USAID support to CRIPEN is part of the USAID Education program to improve the quality of teaching and learning and reinforce the production capacity of CRIPEN. The books will be sent to libraries in all primary schools.

 

New Education Opportunity for Pre-Schoolers in Arta Region (04/16/08)

On April 16th, USAD/Djibouti’s Education Program launched its first pilot pre-school at Wea in Arta region for children under five years of age. The project, called "case de tout petits" which means “children’s corner”, is the first of its kind in a rural setting in Djibouti.

The pre-school is located in a rented building and caters to ten boys and fifteen girls in the current enrollment cycle. During the opening ceremony, Lamine Sow, Chief of Party of implementing partner Academy for Educational Development (AED), distributed toys donated by the US military.

The opening ceremony aired on national television and featured representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, members of the regional assembly, the Head of Wea Village, women’s association representatives, the French military, and AED staff.

The opening of a second pilot pre-school is scheduled in Obock region at the end of April. These schools will prepare children under 5 years, especially girls, for access to further education.

 

USAID Assists in Donation to Djibouti Orphanage Center (03/16/08)

On March 16th, Deputy Chief of Mission, Eric Wong, and USAID Representative to Djibouti, Janet Schulman, attended a handing over ceremony of donated goods from the Church of Latter-Day Saints at the Centre Aicha Bogoreh, an orphanage center.

The donated goods were shipped to Djibouti through the US military and transferred to USAID Djibouti, which stored the goods in a free zone warehouse to allow swift distribution to recipient institutions. A delegation of the newly elected parliamentary women also attended the ceremony.

The donated materials were intended for boarders at the center and consisted of 10 pallets of orphanage kits, 19 pallets of hygiene kits, 320 boxes of skimmed milk and 7 pallets of toys, amounting to a total cost of $150,000.

In her speech, the Center Director expressed her gratitude to the US government for the valuable support provided to the center. USAID previously supported this center through provision of materials for the education of children with disabilities.