Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of the Fiji Island » Bilateral Relations

Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of the Fiji Island » Past Assistance Projects to Fiji» Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)» Press Release

Japan Provides Assistance for Six Classrooms in Two Schools and for Public Convenience Facility in Labasa Town Council

Embargo: Tuesday, 11h November 2008, 11.30 a.m.

The Government of Japan provides assistance worth US$228,660.00 to Lomawai Secondary School, Valebasoga Secondary School and Labasa Town Council through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme.

The Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa represented His Excellency, the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Yutaka Yoshizawa in signing the grant contracts with Mr. Taniela Laqeni, the Principal of Lomawai Secondary School, Mr. Mukhtar Ali, the Manager of Valebasaga Secondary School and Mr. Ram Deo, Labasa Town Councillor, which formalised Japan’s funding assistance to Labasa Town Council and the two schools, at 11.30 a.m., on 11th November, 2008 at the Embassy of Japan’s Conference Room at Level 2, Dominion House, Thomson Street, Suva.

Details of each project are as follows:

1. Lomawai Secondary School

The Lomawai Secondary School is a multi racial school established in 1973 to offer secondary education to children of the farming community from surrounding areas. Today the school offers vocational studies franchised with the Fiji Institute of Technology. In addition, to accommodate children who have to travel long distances to attend school, the Management decided to provide dormitories, however, the school lacked dormitories for boys and currently utilises teacher’s quarters to house the boys. Moreover, the increase in number of children enrolling for vocational studies along with the academic curriculum, the school faced shortage of classrooms and therefore, made a formal request to the Embassy of Japan seeking grant assistance. Japan provided funding assistance worth US$83,183.00 for construction of a new three classroom building complex to Lomawai Secondary School. The new buildings will upgrade the school facilities that will benefit around 500 children

2. Valebasoga Secondary School

Japan also provides funding assistance worth US$87,659.00, for construction of a new three-classroom building complex in Valebasoga Secondary School. Valebasoga Secondary is a multiracial school providing education from forms 1 to 7 with Vocational education franchised from the Fiji Institute of Technology. Over 290 students from the outskirts of Vanualevu including Bua, Cakaudrove and Natewa Bay attend the school which was established in 1991and was completely destroyed in a fire early this year. The new building complex will accommodate children housed temporarily in Valebasoga Public School after facing shortage of classrooms due to the extensive damages sustained from the fire. Therefore, upon request, the Government of Japan provided funding for the construction of the new building.

3. Labasa Town Council

The new Public Convenience Facilities at Labasa market funded by the Government of Japan worth US$57,818.00, will replace the old facilities that was regarded unsuitable for public use by the Ministry of Health earlier this year. The new Public Convenience Facility will have 11 toilets and a shower room for females, for people with disabilities there is provision of adequate facilities, and 6 toilets with a shower room and urinal for males. The new facilities will provide convenience to around 133,000 people from Vanualevu who visit Labasa town such as market vendors, drivers and tourists.

The Government of Japan believes that by providing assistance directly to recipients in Fiji will not only ensure effective delivery and use of grant, but also achieve Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy objective of promoting development at the grassroots level. Japan acknowledges education and good infrastructure positioned in the right place is the key to socio-economic development and hopes to improve the lives of people of Fiji through its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects Programme (GGP). It is hoped that these aid projects will strengthen the friendly ties between the Governments and the people of Japan and Fiji Islands.

Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of the Fiji Island » Past Assistance Projects to Fiji» Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)