ADRA Trains the Government

In an accord signed between ADRA-STP and representatives of the national government of São Tomé e Príncipe on December 5, 2008, ADRA will provide training in general accounting and the use of QuickBooks accounting software to the Centro Nacional de Endemias (CNE). This center, under the Ministry of Health, is the Saotomean counterpart to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. In addition to accounting and software training, ADRA will assist CNE in setting up an accounting system to international standards in preparation for CNE to take over management of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from the local United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office.

ADRA-STP was approached about this opportunity after a delegation of UNDP representatives visited the offices of several NGO’s in the country to assess the quality of their accounting systems and experience with accounting software. The transparency, rigor, and high standards of ADRA-STP’s Finance Department impressed the delegation, and they were also attracted by the quality of the QuickBooks program. “The capacities of our monitoring and evaluation department, our program planning department, and other departments are strong,” says Dr. Herodes Sousa Pontes do Sacramento Rompão, Director of CNE. “But our financial system needs significant strengthening. This training provided by ADRA is a very important part of our preparation to manage the Global Fund.”

The training and accounting system setup will begin in December 2008 with duration of two months. ADRA-STP’s Finance Director, Mr. Ugochukwu A. Nwachukwu, will conduct the training based upon his accounting degree from the University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria), his experience as an international businessman, and his work with ADRA-STP.

“We are very pleased to be afforded this opportunity,” says Dr. Adam D. Kiš, Country Director for ADRA-STP. “Most of our work takes place at the community level, but working at the national level is also a form of development which can ultimately improve the lives of all.”

ADRA Inaugurates the first and Largest Irrigation structure in Sao Tome and Principe.

History was made on the 16th of April when ADRA Sao Tome and Principe inaugurated the first and only concrete irrigation water reservoir in the country. This structure having a dimension of 65 meter in length, 30 meters in width and 8 meter deep is locate in Gratidão (Mesquita) zone of Sao Tome and was Financed by Chevron JDZ Ltd.

The minister of Agriculture Valdemira Tavares while thanking ADRA and Chevron said that this gift is not for Mesquita alone but rather for the people of Sao Tome and Principe as a whole. Emphasizing that the Water Reservoir structure will not only increase the all year round availability of water, but will also increase the number of farmers and also the number of people that sells the farm products in the markets, thereby reducing the acute unemployment problem in the country. She reiterated that with this structure that she was sure that in the near future, Mesquita and environ will have enough production even for Export. And pleaded for ADRA’s continued support in the agricultural sector.

The Managing Director of Chevron in Sao Tome Mr Tim Pearson in his speech thanked ADRA for good implementation of the Project even in the presence of sky rocketing inflation and glaring unavailability of necessary construction equipments. He lauded ADRA Capability, and in his word “We are glad our funds has be well managed and invested” and to show his satisfaction He announced that Chevron will be providing ADRA with more $41,000 for another phase of the project, which will involve rehabilitation of the River Dam that supplies water to the water reservoir and aids to the Farmers in the form of Tools, Seeds and Farm additives.
He further stated that Chevron and ADRA will carry out a study to rehabilitation and extend the irrigation water pipe line to other area so as to make optimal use of the increased water supply.

The President and Treasurer of the Mesquita and Uba Cabra Farmer’s Cooperative Association which has a membership of 299 registered members, with eyes filled with tears of Joy, said that “ADRA has not only given them Fish, But has also taught them to catch Fishes” and that they will eternally remain grateful to ADRA for coming to their rescue.

In His own words the ADRA STP interin Country Director Mr Eliseu Xavier thanked the Cooperative Association of Mesquita and Uba Cabra for their invaluable participation in the Project, CONSTEP Ltd and Mota Engil Ltd for donating freely, the Cement mixers used during the construction, all past and present Staffs of ADRA STP who were involved in the project, and all those, who in one way or the other contributed to the success of this life changing project.

The water Reservoir was implemented at the cost of $94,000.

Written by:

Ugochukwu.A.Nwachukwu

Finance Director (ADRA STP)

The New Look of ADRA.st

ADRA STP is constantly changing in order to create a the best impact to those we help. This is one of the main reasons why we redesigned our website to better suit our needs and to inform others of what we are up to. Feel free to visit us @ http://adra.st and see how you can change a life of a person.

Minister of Economy visit ADRA’s Irrigation Project

In partnership with the Agriculture National Department, and the farmers of Mesquita, ADRA implements an irrigation project with the potential to serve 300 small farmers already working in the Mesquita area and to create opportunities for the settlement of 300 other farmers, on previously cultivated land but that were abandoned due to water scarcity problems.
Recently, by invitation of the Director for the National Department of Agriculture, the newly appointed Minister of Economy, visited the ongoing Irrigation project and more specifically the Water Reservoir. The Minister of Economy also holds the paste of Agriculture and was accompanied by the State Secretary for Agriculture and all directors of the several National Agriculture Departments.
The Minister of Economy, underlined the importance this project has on the support to the small farmers but equally on the important impact it will have on the established national priority to increase the agricultural production in country.
The Irrigation system and other components of the project, including training, tools and seeds, is expected to be completed in April 2008.
The Irrigation system project is funded by Chevron JDZ and the training seeds and tools is funded by ADRA Canada, under the ongoing project “Exchange of Information and Agricultural Production”.

We are ADRA STP

Official ADRA STP picture for 2007-08.

Front Row: Edynésio Managem; Ismael Cardoso; Raquel Costa; Josias Boa Morte; Karlilaed da Glória; Anibal Graça; Luísa Carvalho; Luís Varela; Jessica Sacramento; Ugochukwu Nwachukwu; Lurdes Viana; António Vaz; e Geraldina Sacramento.

Middle Row: António Pontes; Dias Marques; Arlindo Carvalho; Conceição Agati; Emanuel Costa; Rafael Barros; Olinto Costa; e Nelson Pereira.

Back Row: Eliseu Xavier; Valdimir de Almeida; Martinho Santos; Menuel Sacramento; e Adam Kis.

Colleagues not appearing in the picture: Hélder Varela; Jordão das Neves; Vadler Managem; Fredibel Umblina; Aidov Caissa; Ernestina Maia; Ondina Sousa; e Ana Maria Ferreira; Justino Graça.

Novo Destino’s New Face

Novo Destino is a community located in Mé-Zochi district, around 17 km outside the capital city, with about 250 people. Whoever had the opportunity to visit Novo Destino in January 2007 would notice a great difference if they went there today: 27 latrines – one for each household of the community – with a central sewage system leading to a common septic tank, a laundry area, clean running water, and renovations of all community restrooms. But these infrastructural interventions were not all; in December last year, the community health center and shop were inaugurated, and certificates of completion were given to community agents and 7 people trained in business management. One could say it was a Christmas gift to the community.
This great investment came from the Chevron Texaco oil enterprise, which financed this project to the tune of 70 thousand dollars. ADRA STP provided guidance, while the community contributed with manual labor. These interventions were according to the needs identified by community members, which also provided motivation for the work achieved. ADRA STP also provided training to the community in agriculture, new technical works, cooperation and organization, sanitation, and others.
Present at the simple but important inauguration ceremony were the director of Chevron Texaco, Timothy Parsons; the director of ADRA STP; the Minister of Health; the president of the local government of Mé-Zochi district; the director of FIC/PAPAPFPA, Carminda Viegas; and community residents. The director of ADRA STP, Emanuel Costa, highlighted that the organization has been working in Novo Destino since 2004. He reemphasized that the health center has everything that it needs, and that in an effort to provide remuneration for community health agents, ADRA STP is also providing a community shop. Domingo Silva, a highly skilled community leader, said, “This community is benefitted yet again, and we are so glad because we never dreamed of having a community health center… If this organization leaves us, we’ll be so broken-hearted because ADRA has truly brought Novo Destino a new destiny.”
After the presenting of certificates, a representative of the trainees, Daniel Amuçu, said, “In the name of all of my colleagues I thank the trainers and, of course, ADRA, too, because they have given us sufficient knowledge to know how to take care of our population’s health. With the things we have learned, I am sure that many of the sicknesses will be treated right here, without needing to go to the capital city hospital.” The president of the local government of Mé-Zochi district expressed his gladness that the residents of Novo Destino know what they want; now, they must maintain the infrastructure so that it will last for many years to come. A representative of Chevron Texaco also said that he is very glad for the work achieved toward the goal of changing Novo Destino’s residents’ living conditions. “We’d like to thank ADRA for the good coordination provided throughout the work process. We’d also like to thank the community of Novo Destino for the motivation and contribution primarily through providing manual labor. Without motivation on the community’s part, it would not be easy to implement this project successfully.”
At the end of the ceremony, the Minister of Health said, “The inaugurated structures will serve to improve sanitation at the country level. The structure of this health center makes me very happy because it not only supports medical activities, but also has a room where the community can interact with the health system. It is good to have preventive support, because it has become necessary to work in disease prevention. This is an integrated method, for it allows people to contribute so that the organization may be sustainable.”
Therefore, if you want to see this example with your own eyes, go to Novo Destino and say, “One for all, and all for one.”

By Conceição Agaty
Translated from Portuguese by Edy T. Managem and Adam D. Kiš

Year End Message

The year of 2007 presented itself as a challenge to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Sao Tome and Principe. After a 2 year successful malaria fight program, where ADRA was able to raise awareness for the use of mosquito nets to over 90% of the population and through social marketing strategies bring mosquito nets into 52% of the households, our malaria fight objectives had been reached and even if we would continue to support to the national malaria strategy, our attention had to be refocused on other priorities.
Facing change and building on our strengths: community development, maternal and child health care and strong communication strategies, was the motto for the New Year.
Our local partners and our donors, such as the ADRA network, the American and Finish Governments, Chevron, individuals, were included in this strategic change of our operations, and we received the confirmation of their trust and nearly doubled the funding received in the previous year, and reaching the historical mark of half a million dollars for our development objectives. The agency was able to invest in training for national health personnel, NGOs and communities; provide clean water and basic sanitation for many; partner with women giving them a chance to start prosperous businesses; provide access to new and better equipped health facilities to isolated communities; strengthen local small organizations and reinforce partnerships; and for the first time in Sao Tome having a purely HIV/AIDS project in the country, in an area we believe will bring added value to the national strategy.
We are now looking ahead to next year’s challenges, knowing that even greater change is to come, but also knowing that those will bring greater opportunities to serve.

Thank you for your interest and support,







Emanuel G. da Costa
Country Director
ADRA Sao Tome and Principe