Recipients of the United States Embassy Apia’s 2018 Public Diplomacy Grants programme were thankful for the assistance shown to them through the programme. 

At a grantee ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy residence in Vailima on Monday, 11 organisations and 10 individuals were recognised for their hard work and contribution to Samoa. 

Animal Protection Society (A.P.S.) Chairperson, Joan Macfarlane said the grant would enable them to carry out more extensive community and awareness programmes and to encourage people to treat their pets well as they are part of our families. 

“So they need basic good care, some love, food and water, they need to be played with, and they need to go to A.P.S. from time to time to get their health check, so those are the type of messages we will be promoting among the communities with this grant, and it is all about the animals, but it also impacts on the health of Samoa, it impacts on tourism, and also on the economy of Samoa,” Ms. Macfarlane said. 

Principal Officer of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Nelson Memorial Library at the American Corner, Losa Latulipe said the American Corner has provided the needed services for students and those who visit the American Corner.

“With the free internet access, reading materials provided, and activities that have broadened the knowledge of the students. Through this grant, we are able to assist in the literacy programme for children of all ages,” she said. 

Alexia Slaven, who spoke on behalf of her sister, Quenjule Slaven, from the Turn a life around programme said the assistance has helped their work in helping child vendors, and they are thankful for it. 

“We started the programme in 2015, at the time we had about three to four child vendors attending our sessions, but now in 2018 we have 20 child vendors attending our sessions,” she said. 

“We teach reading and arithmetic. Last year we were able to give 12 scholarships to child vendors. One child vendor in particular was able to make it to college. When she first came to our session, she did not know how to read and write and now she’s able to make it through college.”