Japan provides US$1.8 million grant for five development projects

The government of Japan has provided grant assistance of US$1.8 million for five development projects through the Grant Assistance for Japanese Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
The money will fund UXO clearance in Xieng Khuang province, two education projects in Savannakhet and Vientiane provinces, a dental health project in Vientiane and the provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet, and a vocational training project in Vientiane.

The grant contracts were signed at the Japanese Embassy in Vientiane on Monday by the embassy’s Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr Iwamoto Keiichi, and representatives of Japanese NGOs, namely Japan Mine Action Services, World Vision Japan, Action with Lao Children the Organisation of International Support for Dental Education, and the International Cooperation NGO, IV-JAPAN. 
The UXO clearance project by Japan Mine Action Services is in the second year of a three-year project. It aims to accelerate machine clearance of unexploded ordnance in highly contaminated areas such as Paek, Kham and Phoukout districts in Xieng Khuang province.
The two education projects aim to improve the education environment for Lao children. One of the two projects funded by World Vision Japan is in the second year of a three-year initiative to improve the reading skills of primary school children in Thapangthong district, Savannakhet province. The other project by Action with Lao Children is in the final year of a three-year project to set up school libraries at secondary schools in Vientiane province.
The dental health sector project by the Organisation of International Support for Dental Education is in the final year of a three-year project to improve dental hygiene and treatment, and reduce oral diseases and serious infections amongst people living in Vientiane and the provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet.
The project aims to provide opportunities for nurses and nursing students to learn more about dental health and disease prevention and receive practical training.
The vocational training project by IV-JAPAN is in the final year of a three-year project to create more job opportunities, including among ethnic groups in rural areas. The project provides opportunities for people to take vocational training courses so they can find jobs as hotel staff and caregivers.
Speaking at the grant contract signing ceremony, Mr Keiichi said he greatly appreciated the continuing efforts of Japanese NGOs to improve the basic standard of living at the grassroots level in Laos despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and reaffirmed the strong commitment by the government of Japan to support their activities.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 5, 2021)