H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from Kayah, Chin and Rakhine States concerned signed the grant contracts for four projects on 18 January 2018. The Government of Japan, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will provide a total of US$ 534,322 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Hto Kwi So Village Basic Education Primary School in Hpruso Township, Kayah State (US$ 101,792) ;
2. The Project for Construction of Farrawn Village Basic Education Branch Primary School in Tantalang Township, Chin State (US$ 125,336) ;
3. The Project for Construction of Fanthen Village Sub Rural Health Center in Tantalang Township, Chin State (US$ 114,211) ; and
4. The Project for Construction of Yet Chaung Village Basic Education Branch High School in Myebon Township, Rakhine State (US$ 192,983).

The school building in Hto Kwi So Village Basic Education Primary School was constructed in 1982 and seriously deteriorated. Although the villagers repaired the building partially, they couldn’t afford to repair all decayed pillars and cracked foundations. Therefore, most of the students are studying at the deteriorated building and some of them are studying in a neighboring religious facility. In order to secure an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will support construction of a one-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 5 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 86 students of the school.

Due to the lack of the school building, Farrawn Village Basic Education Branch Primary School provides education to only the students from KG to G2. Therefore, the students from G3 to G4 take an hour to go to Farrawn Village Basic Education Primary School. Moreover, the school building is deteriorated and the students are studying at the school building which is in danger of collapsing. In order to tackle the issue, the Government of Japan will support construction of a one-storey R.C.C. building with 5 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 117 students of the school.

Fanthen Village Sub Rural Health Center has provided medical services for villagers since 1982. As the center has faced the serious deterioration of the building and the lack of delivery room and necessary medical equipment, pregnant women have to deliver babies at home under unsanitary conditions. In addition, a mid-wife stays at the center and a public health advisor stays at the villager’s house, due to the lack of the staff quarter. In order to provide a proper hygienic environment, the Government of Japan will support construction of a one-storey R.C.C. rural health center, a staff quarter, solar panels and medical equipment. The project will benefit 1,483 residents of the village.

One of the school buildings in Yet Chaung Village Basic Education Branch High School is decayed and registered as a dangerous building by Ministry of Education. However, the students have to use this building due to the shortage of proper classrooms. Moreover, the students study in two shifts with less curriculum than scheduled. To tackle this issue, the Government of Japan will support the construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 10 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 812 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 842 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 414 education projects, 200 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 54 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.