The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas Greenfield, will on Wednesday, January 27, sign grant agreements to provide assistance to several community groups from across Liberia.

The grants will be provided under the “Ambassador’s Self Help Fund” to implement various community development initiatives in the areas of health/sanitation, education (construction and renovation of school buildings) and income generation projects.

The signing ceremony is scheduled for 2: pm at the Public Diplomacy Section of the United States Embassy.

Since 2003, the Ambassador’s Self Help Fund has benefitted thousands of Liberians, including the physically challenged and ex-combatants. A wide range of projects have been funded including construction of schools, clinics, latrines and hand pumps, sugar cane mills, farina machines, office and medical equipment, school supplies and textbooks, as well as farming tools throughout Liberia.

Meanwhile, the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia on Friday, January 22, 2010 launched this year’s Liberia National Spelling Bee Competition in Gbarnga, Bong County.

The event was attended by Representatives of the Ministry of Education including county and district educational Officers. The National Spelling Bee is held annually and it is open to students in the fifth and sixth grades in both private and public schools in Liberia.

The Spelling Bee is an educational program that not only encourages children to perfect the art of spelling but also increases their knowledge of the English language. The Public Diplomacy Section has conducted the spelling bee in Liberia since 2008.