Response of the AME Service and Development Agency to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's Comments Disparaging USAID Projects

Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a list of the"insane priorities" of USAID to justify Elon Musk's dismantling of the agency. Among them was a reference to "1.2 million to help the African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency in Washington, D.C., build “a state-of-the-art 440-seat auditorium”. This is a gross mischaracterization of a decades-old initiative carried out by AME-SADA. The African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency, Inc. (AME-SADA) is a charitable institution under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  It was founded, more than forty years ago, by five African Methodist Episcopal Church (lay and clergy) visionaries, as an independent entity with its own board and some periodic funding from the AME Church, USAID, UNICEF and other multilateral and bilateral entities.  AME-SADA works in Haiti, South Africa and other parts of Africa and the Caribbean. In 1994, shortly after the election of Mandela in South Africa, AME-SADA’s Board of Directors decided to assist with reopening Wilberforce College in the township of Evaton (outside of Johannesburg) in South Africa.  This centenary institution, closed during the height of the apartheid regime was to reopen under the name of Wilberforce Community College (WCC).  A master plan was developed for repairs and expansion of the campus.  AME-SADA sought funding from USAID ASHA for the projects listed below. SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON WILBERFORCE COMMUNITY PROJECTS 1.    August 1996- AME-SADA received a grant from USAID/ASHA of US $2.39 million for the design and construction of the Multi-Purpose Education Facility Building.  The structure was completed in December 2000.  This structure provided the main administrative and classroom building for the campus, along with a generator to address the frequent power blackouts in the township. 2.    September 1998 AME-SADA received a grant from USAID/ASHA of US$1,250,000.00 for the design and construction of the Distance Learning Center and 6 faculty houses; the construction was completed and the Center was dedicated in September 2004.  The distance learning center allowed for use of faculty in the US to provide classes on the WCC campus, along with space on campus for housing visiting faculty.  Such a resource made up for the lack of funds and other resources to diversify and enrich the WCC curriculum. 3.    April 1999 AME-SADA received a grant from USAID/ASHA of US$700,000.00 for the design and construction of male and female dormitory buildings.  They were completed and dedicated in September 2004. This on-campus housing allowed for an expansion of the student body beyond the immediate township. 4.    June 2003, AME-SADA received a grant from USAID/ASHA of US$850,000.00 for the design and construction of a Dining Hal.  This construction allowed for on campus dining for student, faculty and staff and also opened the campus up to community conferences and meetings with full use of the facility and providing additional income for WCC.  5.    April 2009 AME-SADA received a grant from USAID/ASHA of US$1,207,500.00 for the design and construction of a Community Development Center.  The Center was dedicated in 2010.  This Center allowed for a large lecture hall holding 450 seats for national exams, graduations and other campus activities.  It also proved a space for large community meetings and other gatherings.

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