The Japanese Government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$ 158,057 for
1) The Project for Construction of Baung Bin Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Myaing Township, Magway Region (US$ 75,546) and
2) The Project for Construction of Htauk Shar Pin Village Basic Education Primary School in Pakokku Township, Magway Region (US$ 82,511).

The handover ceremony for 2) is to assist the school out of 493 flood affected ones requested by the Government of Myanmar to the Government of Japan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The handover ceremonies of the above 2 projects took place in Myaing and Pakokku Townships on 7th November 2017. Ms. Ayano SUZUKI, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, U Win Htay, Member of Magway Region Hluttaw elected for Myaing Township Consistency, committee chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

Although Building No.1 in Baung Bin Village Basic Education Branch Middle School was old and decayed, students had been studying in that unsafe building, due to the lack of school building. In order to tackle these challenges, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a one-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 4 classrooms, full furniture, and 4 lavatories. The project benefits 408 students of the school.

The single school building in Htauk Shar Pin Village Basic Education Primary School had been flooded at the height of 6 feet by the flood in 2015. However, students had been studying in that deteriorated building, due to the lack of school building. In order to provide a secure learning environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a one-storey R.C.C. building with 5 classrooms, full furniture, and 3 lavatories. The project benefits 61 students of the school.

Japan has experienced many natural disasters so far. Accordingly, Japan has learnt the lessons from the past disasters and introduced the concept "Build Back Better" worldwide. "Build Back Better" is to reconstruct our society after a disaster, much better and stronger than before a disaster in order to reduce potential disaster risks. Based on this concept, the new school buildings which have provided under the GGP scheme, have stronger structure than flood affected buildings.

The Government of Japan has assisted 820 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 396 education projects, 199 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 51 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.