The U.S. Mission to Samoa honored six organizations and two individuals at a September 10 awards ceremony at the U.S. Embassy Residence in Vailima. The organizations received funding from the Embassy’s 2020 Public Diplomacy Grants program, while the individuals will be participating in U.S. Exchange Programs, such as the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program.
I. Public Diplomacy Grants Program 2020
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 borne from the Reef Ball Foundation in Florida 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. SWAG’s overall aim is to promote and provide women growers and farmers of Samoa with opportunities for business, networking, training, expanding knowledge, and accessing global markets.
II. 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.
III. Exchange Programs
Moeumu Uili – Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship
- The Fulbright Foreign Student Program allows citizens of other countries to study at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions, offering program participants insights into U.S. society and values. The Fulbright grantee pursues a Master’s Degree, Ph.D. or research of up to 12 months at a U.S.-based 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.
