ERMERA, 28 august 2023 (TATOLI) – Kazumi YAMADA, Chargés d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan, on friday (25/08) attended the inauguration ceremony of the water supply system under the “project for construction of water supply system in Coliate-Leotelo village, Hatolia administrative post, Ermera municipality”.
The ceremony was hosted by Alfa Star, the NGO that implemented the project. Representatives of the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water, and Sanitation, Alfa Star, local government officials of relevant authorities, and local residents joined Yamada in the ceremony.
Yamada extended her sincere congratulations to the people in Claetame sub-village and Alfa Star for the completion of the water supply system.
She emphasized the importance of access to clean water, saying, “The supply of clean water is one of the most fundamental necessities for people’s lives. Access to clean water has positive effects on education, as children can use the time they spend fetching water for school and their studies. In Claetrema, where many people are engaged in coffee cultivation, access to water allows the coffee farmers to wash coffee beans more efficiently than before. Improved access to clean water will thus have spillover effects on many sectors, including health, nutrition, education, and agriculture, impacting the people and the community.”
She added, “The important thing is how to maintain the system in good condition. To this end, this project includes training for a facility management group (GMF) for system maintenance. I hope all community members will cooperate with GMF to fulfill their responsibilities.”
For this project, the Government of Japan provided US$90,400 through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security (GGP) scheme. Through this project, a water supply system was constructed and training on system maintenance was provided, benefiting 850 people in this village.
Since the first project was launched in 2000, 136 projects have been implemented under the GGP scheme in all 14 municipalities of Timor-Leste. The projects mainly provide assistance to community infrastructure, including the construction and rehabilitation of school facilities, public clinics, and water supply systems, addressing various basic human needs at the grassroots level.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
