The signing ceremony took place between H.E.Mr.Mikio NUMATA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and Chairmenoftwo School and two Transit Shelter Construction Committees, forthefour grant contractsof total amount US$518,915on March 20, 2013under theGrant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects(GGP) Scheme.

The four projects funded by the GGP Scheme are as follows:-
1) US$157,969for Construction of Shawtawmaw Basic Education Primary School inKyunzu Township, Taninthari Region
2)US$123,408 for Construction of MyeiktaungBasic Education Post Primary School in Myeik Township, Taninthari Region
3) US$121,699forConstruction of Transit Shelter for Human Trafficking Victims in KawthoungTownship, Taninthari Region
4)US$115,839forConstruction of Transit Shelter for Human Trafficking Victims in Myawady Township, Kayin State

Each school has insufficient classrooms for the students and their current buildings are getting too old to provide good learning environment for the students. Each Township Task Force for Anti-Trafficking in Persons of Kawthoung and Myawady are also using temporary buildings such as old hospital building and monastery buildings for accepting the trafficking victims and for physical and mental encouragement. Although the Board of Trustee of each school and concerned Task Forceshave been seeking opportunity to construct new buildings to solve the problem and to improve their situation, they have been facing financial difficulties.

It is expected that this assistance willprovide the students in Kyunzu and MyeikTownshopswith better learning and sanitation environment and the trafficking victims in Kawthoung and Myawadywith better encouragement and further strengthen existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.