223 PROJECTS FOR INDIGENOUS FARMERS APPROVED

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2002 (VIS) - From July 7 to July 12, the annual meeting of the Council of the Administration of the "Populorum Progressio" Foundation took place in the Bolivian cities of Sucre and La Paz. The purpose of the foundation, created by John Paul II on February 13, 1992, is to promote the development of the indigenous, mestizo and afro-american communities of the poorest laborers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
During the gathering in Bolivia, 270 projects were studied and of these 223 were approved (82.6%) at a cost of $1,895,300, which will be sent to those in charge of the projects in August, according to a communique made public today. Colombia, Peru and Bolivia will again receive the most aid this year. Antillas, Cuba and Honduras will receive the least.

In the communique, it is indicated that of the approved projects, 36.67% will be focused on production in agriculture, the craft industry or in small business or community stores; 27.78% will be directed toward infrastructure: potable water, latrines, city halls and gardens; the third block, 15.92% of the approved projects, will be educational: training and personnel, communications and publications; 12.59% for the construction of health care clinics, schools and houses; and 7.04% for health care training and personnel. In the foundation's 10 years, including 2002, 1,820 projects have been approved with a budget of just over $15 million.

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