2003 Press Releases

SACCOL receives support from USAID-SA
December 2003:   SACCOL and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a two-year grant agreement on 1 October 2003. It enables support for a SACCO Supervision, Stabilization and Network Programme. In keeping with USAID’s global mission to support sustainable and participatory development, emphasize partnerships and use integrated approaches to promoting development, US$500 000 has been awarded to SACCOL from USAID-SA. A five year SACCO project for South Africa was also supported by USAID in 1994. 

Children’s Health Campaign Launched In Eastern Cape, Community outreach promotes Vitamin A supplements
September 12, 2003:   East London, South Africa:  Eastern Cape mothers and caregivers of children aged 6 to 24 months will soon learn why, how and where to obtain free Vitamin A supplements to improve their health.  Funded by the provincial Department of Health, with support and technical assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a community media campaign will be launched on Monday, September 15, in an intensive effort to reduce the Vitamin A deficiency affecting more than 30 percent of children under age five years in the province.

Brain Gain:  South Africa's World-Class Economists
September 10, 2003:  The week-end launch of the Mandela Economics Scholars Alumni Association is a feather in South Africa’s brain gain cap.  More than 115 black South African economists who completed or are completing advanced degrees in the U.S. or South Africa since 1996 are back in the country using their skills in government, academic and other sectors.  They were also active in the Trade and Industrial Strategies (TIPS) 7^th annual forum in Johannesburg in September 2003 and plan to increase the local cadre of professional economists. 

USAID Supports National Arbor Week in South Africa
September 2, 2003:  United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Director, Eilene Oldwine, joined South African officials and 2000 community residents of Potchefstroom’s neglected suburbs to plant the first installment of 1000 trees along the barren streets on September 2.  The section of North West province is home to a quarter of a million South Africans.  The stark absence of trees and related trademarks of a healthy environment resulted from apartheid practices that excluded basic service delivery in black-inhabited communities.

Media Advisory: USAID distributes First Lady’s Donation of Art Kits to Disadvantaged South African Children
July 31, 2003: USAID distributes First Lady’s Donation of Art Kits to Disadvantaged South African children, at the American Culture and Information Center, 3^rd Floor, Ten Sixty-Six Building, 35 Pritchard Street (cnr Pritchard and Harrison Sts), Johannesburg, on Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 10h00. Parking is available.

USAID Celebrates South African Takalani Sesame Awards
May 29, 2003:  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) quietly stands behind the scenes celebrating the awards won by South Africa’s Takalani Sesame World AIDS Day episode at the recent World Media Festival.

USAID Project Produces World Class Textbooks
March 27, 2003:   World-class textbooks have been produced by South Africa’s Peninsula Technikon (PenTech) to help first-year university and technikon students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds adjust to language and academic challenges.  The achievement is part of a collective effort with the South African government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve the country’s quality of higher education through the Tertiary Education Linkages Project (TELP).

USAID Moves to New Pretoria Building
January 31, 2003:  Pretoria: U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Cameron Hume, dedicated the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) new premises at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and launched a time capsule to commemorate the occasion on Friday, January 31, 2003.

*  HAPPY 85^TH BIRTHDAY, NELSON MANDELA (Born on 18 July 1918)! *
January, 2003:  USAID wishes former President Nelson Mandela a wonderful 85^th birthday. Carrying your torch forward are 85 South African men and women funded by USAID in your name to earn advanced economics degrees. No longer is there a critical shortage of trained black economists in South Africa’s government. Since the program started in 1996 under your presidency, 74 scholars have returned to work in South Africa and another 11 are completing their degrees in the USA, totaling 85 Mandela Economics Scholars. Your memory will influence South Africa and the world for generations to come, Mr. Mandela. USAID has been honored to play a role in this way.