Foundation Focus received donation from USAID in amount of $24,000
Veles, July 26, 2010 (MIA) – The Foundation for Local Development and Democracy Focus from Veles received a donation in amount of $24,000 from the American Development Agency USAID.
Eriк Pacific, the new Director of the Democracy and Local Government Office of USAID in Macedonia, at the occasion of delivering the grant in Veles, expressed his hopes that this equipment would help the Foundation in its future projects, especially the ones concerning the establishment of relations of the local government with the citizens, i.e. in the development of democracy in the region.
Vesna Shkortova, Executive Director the Foundation Focus, while thanking for the donation, which consists of office equipment and off-road vehicle, pointed out that this donation was a recognition for the successfully realized three projects during the past three years, that were also financially supported by USA funds, through various programs and partners.
The projects are the following: “Smile in Pajamas”, a project through which the Pediatric Department of the City Hospital in Veles was refurnished and "We, for Our Community" which organized several workshops about citizens' priorities and public debates with citizens concerning the municipalities' budget.
The third project helped to establish the “Support Fund" intended to help the children from socially vulnerable families in Veles. This Fund, through donations from citizens and companies provided 50 free of charge meals for children from primary schools, as well as encyclopedias and books. Through this project, seven other initiatives of non-government organizations from Veles were supported as well, by raising additional $10,000, said Shkortova.