Information and news about the USAID Growth with Equity in Mindanao III (GEM 3) Project

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman is presented with a citation of appreciation for USAID's matching grant assistance by Undersecretary Bai Mayan Sinsuat of the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM). Through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, USAID matches, dollar for dollar, the funds raised by parent-teacher-associations (PTAs) to establish or improve small libraries, home economics rooms, science and computer laboratories, and multi-media centers in their schools. PTAs in 900 Mindanao elementary and high schools have raised more than $1 million, matched by USAID, for more than 1,000 matching grant projects benefiting approximately 600,000 students. USAID's GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority.