A grant of $4,700 was approved by the Board of Directors of New England Biolabs Foundation (NEBF) in December 2017 in favor of the GERAS’ project on climate change workshop for young people. NEBF is a private foundation whose mission is to foster community-based conservation of landscapes and seascapes and the bio-cultural diversity found in these places. NEBF believes that their natural and cultural values are inextricably linked, and that indigenous and local communities should play a fundamental role in their stewardship.
NEBF was established in 1982 by the founder of New England Biolabs Inc., Donald Comb,a molecular biologist. Don was inspired by the diversity of life on Earth and the power of local community. Don created the foundation with the simple, yet powerful premise, that by thoughtfully investing in the work of people living and working in areas of high biodiversity, we can make an important contribution to conservation.
With this as NEBF’s guide, the foundation seeks to encourage community-based projects in regions of the world where their small contributions can have the greatest impact. NEBF does this primarily through its grant making, but also complement this support with capacity-building opportunities to long-term grantees through workshops offered by its partner organization, Creative Action Institute (home of ArtCorps), as well as other professional development opportunities.
Through NEBF’s grants program, the foundation provides financial support in the form of small project grants to grassroots organizations and other NGOs in selected countries in Central America, Andean South America, and West Africa. In addition, in support of its local roots, NEBF also provides grants for community-based conservation and cultural projects in coastal communities on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
“We are delighted to inform you that the trustees of the New England Biolabs Foundation recently approved a one-year grant of $4,700 to Geo-Environmental Resource Association (GERAS) Cameroon in support of your project titled Climate change workshop for young people. Again, congratulations! We look forward to working with you over the coming year,” says Jessica Brown, Executive Director of the NEBF. “We look forward to hearing of your progress with this initiative. In the meantime, on behalf of the trustees of New England Biolabs Foundation, we wish you much success with this worthwhile project.”
“It is a great opportunity for me and my team to expand the project from its pilot phase; and I am very grateful for the trust and support from New England Biolabs Foundation” says Ndzishepngong Kelvin Ngwang, the CEO of GERAS Cameroon.
With this grant, GERAS intends to reach out to at least 100 in-schools and out-of-schools children in the locality of Kumba, South West Region of Cameroon, and at least 100 trees will be planted, with more multiplier effects. The outreach of the project will increase with respect to time and resources.