WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) announced today 34 new grants to U.S. organizations to support construction projects and the purchase of equipment for overseas institutions. The projects, spanning 24 countries, are funded through a competitive annual grant and directly support schools, libraries and medical centers outside the United States that share universal values, such as empowering women and inclusive societies, as well as promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, while advancing best practices in healthcare and education. Throughout its history ASHA’s impact has covered the globe, working in nearly 80 countries with more than 270 institutions.

“We are very pleased to expand the network of ASHA partners,” said Director Katherine Crawford. “These partnerships increase access to high-quality education and healthcare abroad, which ultimately strengthens a country’s workforce, lifts populations out of extreme poverty and creates resilient societies.”

These new awards, approximately $23 million in total, will support institutions that train future leaders in a wide variety of disciplines, promote advances in research and innovation, foster medical and academic professionalism, and build bridges between citizens of the United States and other countries.

The 34 ASHA awards include grants to six new U.S. partners and 11 new overseas partners, including the Harpur Memorial Hospital in Egypt to construct a new outpatient clinic; the Don Bosco Technical School Kep (DBK) in Cambodia to improve access to education for the country’s most vulnerable populations by transforming DBK into a handicap-accessible campus; and the Mthunzi Centre in Zambia for construction of a library and the purchase of 4,000 books in an area with extremely limited access to educational resources. A complete list of award recipients is available here.