Press release

Donation of 130 sewing machines to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs

Joseph LeBaron, Ambassador of the United States in Nouakchott, presided this afternoon with Madame Nebghouha Mint Tlamid, Minister of Women’s Affairs, at a ceremony to donate 130 manual sewing machines.  These machines are intended for women’s training centers throughout the thirteen regions of the country.

This aid is given under the “Shared Futures” program, based on shared values between peoples such as human dignity, liberty, tolerance, and democracy.

In consultation with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, nine Mauritanian NGOs dedicated to ameliorating poverty and improving the lives of women have also been selected to receive sewing machines.  These represent a donation in addition to the 130 machines donated here today.  These additional machines will be distributed over the next several weeks.

The ceremony, which took place at the Women’s Training Center under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, was attended by a number of dignitaries.

Nouakchott,  14 February 2006