DILI, 04 december 2023 (TATOLI) – The Government of Japan through its Embassy, held a signing ceremony for grant contracts for two projects held in the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste. Under these projects, a primary school building and a high school building will be constructed. The assistance is provided through Japan’s development assistance scheme Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) aims to benefit the local communities, especially in remote areas. Japan has successfully implemented 136 projects through this scheme over the last 20 years all around the country
The contracts were signed at the Embassy of Japan between Tetsuya KIMURA, the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, and the representatives of local organizations MAHON, Angelo Fernandes Ximenes and the Saint Francis of Assisi Foundation Frey Nicolao Jose, which will implement the respective projects. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education, representatives of the local government, each school, and the organizations attended the ceremony.
MAHON will construct a school building for Harekain primary school in Raimea village, Zumalai administrative post, Covalima municipality, and the Saint Francis of Assisi Foundation will construct a school building for their high school students in Clacuc village, Fatuberliu administrative post, Manufahi municipality. The amount of assistance for each project is US$72,992.
Ambassador Kimura said: “Basic education is essential for the development of the nation as children and young people of Timor-Leste are the ones responsible for the economic and social development of this country in the future.
The Embassy of Japan also joins the Government in stressing the importance of improving livelihoods in rural areas: “This is reflected in our implementing many projects in the municipalities, even in hard-to-reach places. I have visited three elementary schools whose school buildings were built with financial support from the Government of Japan through the GGP scheme, in the Municipality of Ermera, Ainaro, and Bobonaro. It was indeed worth traveling for hours to see those big smiles on the faces of school children who are eager to learn in the new, safe, and well-equipped school buildings.”
The Japanese government has supported numerous large-scale projects, including the construction of infrastructure, support for industries, as well as smaller-scale projects that directly benefit the local people. GGP has been playing a major role in the latter area, focusing on the improvement and expansion of social services delivery in Timor-Leste. It has been supporting various sectors through the construction of educational facilities, healthcare institutions, and water supply systems, among others.
At the same place, the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus, thanked the Government of Japan for its financial support for the construction of school buildings in both municipalities.
“On behalf of the Government, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Government of Japan for its extensive support for the development of Timor-Leste’s education sector. These two school buildings will certainly contribute to improving the learning of our students in these two municipalities,” said Minister Dulce.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
