The U.S. Embassy, Yangon, hosted a Small Grants Program signing ceremony on August 14 to award grants to seven organizations after a competitive selection process, according to a press release issued on the day.
The Small Grants Program promotes the development of a vibrant, representative civil society in Myanmar by supporting local organizations that identify, respond to, and advocate for the needs of their communities to broaden citizen participation and democratic process.
Mon Youth Association received $11,905 to organize a series of talks aimed at increasing awareness on topics ranging from voter education and democracy, to human rights and drug abuse in Mudon Township in Mon State; Treasure Land Development Association received $19,950 to promote gender equality through human rights education in Mon State; BusinessKind Myanmar received $17,600 to provide technical support for the creation of a self-sustaining association of women weavers in Kachin State; Colors Rainbow received $20,000 to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Tanintharyi Division; Friends of Wildlife (FOW) received $20,000 for a project to promote participatory governance in the Indawgyi Lake Basin in Kachin State; Kalyana Mitta Development Foundation received $20,350 to conduct civic and voter education trainings throughout the country; and Sisterhood received $9,500 to conduct civic and voter education training in Sagaing and Magway Divisions.
Since its inception in 2006, the Embassy Small Grants Program has provided over $2.5 million to Myanmar civil society organizations.