Press Items

Martine Olabou School Students Benefit from Ambassador's Girls' Scholarship Program

May 20, 2008 - Ambassador Eunice Reddick visited Martine Olabou School, where she met with students, teachers, and local government officials. She personally delivered free t-shirts to students and announced the recipients of the Ambassador Girls' Scholarship Program.

Girls account for 60% of the 40 million children in Africa who do not attend school because of economic hardship or other adverse circumstances.  As announced by President Bush in June 2002, the Ambassador's Girls' Scholarship Program (AGSP) will provide 250,000 scholarships to school girls in sub-Saharan Africa.  The objective is to support the retention of girls in school. 

At the US Embassy Libreville, the AGSP will help 450 girls in Gabon and 400 girls in Sao Tome and Principe during the 2008-2009 school year.  While overseen by the Embassy, it is administered by Winrock International, a partner organization.  Local partners in Gabon are the Lion's Club, L'Association des Femmes Educatrices du Gabon (AFEG), and Femmes Gabonaises.  In Sao Tome and Principe the local partner is Step-Up.