The Government of Japan is providing grant assistance worth approximately USD 190,000 for the benefit of students in Luang Prabang province through its Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Project.
The project supports the construction of toilets and hand washing stations in a total of 25 primary schools in both Luang Prabang and Phonxay districts as well as educational activities to improve knowledge and awareness of how to maintain and manage facilities and school sanitation to improve the educational and sanitary environment.
The grant contract was signed on 2 March between Mr. Kobayashi Kenichi, Ambassador of Japan to Laos, and Ms. Phoutthanaly Thammamixay, Country Manager of the Shanti Volunteer Association in Laos. The contract signing was witnessed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Silinthone Sacklokham, Director General, Department of External Relations, Ministry of Education and Sports.
“The project aims to improve hygiene and sanitary situations at target schools in Luang Prabang and Phonxay District, Luang Prabang Province with the involvement of people in both districts where support is required for protecting children’s lives from diseases and ensuring a suitable education environment.”
“Under this project, we will improve sanitation facilities and include educational activities to improve knowledge and awareness of school sanitation and how to maintain and manage these facilities safely in the target schools. We will do our best and use all our knowledge, skills, and experience to make the project successful and achieve the project goals”, Ms. Phoutthanaly, Country Manager of the Shanti Volunteer Association in Laos said.
“Many villages in mountainous areas in the Luang Prabang Province lack sufficient infrastructure. In terms of households having sanitation facilities with access to water and soap, Luang Prabang Province has the third lowest percentage in the country”, Ambassador Kobayashi said.
“We hope these efforts made by Shanti Volunteer Association contribute to improving the sanitary environment in schools while helping children stay safe from infectious diseases and other threats. As such, Japan is proud to support better sanitation at schools. This in turn is set to lead to an improvement in children’s school attendance and academic achievements”, he added.
Japan’s Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for economic and social development projects that are voluntarily planned and implemented by Japanese international cooperation NGOs in developing countries and regions including Laos.
The Government of Japan has provided more than USD 14 million over the past five years to Laos to support education, health, UXO, and other areas. In a shared effort to address regional disparities in socioeconomic development, Japan will continue to actively cooperate with NGOs to support initiatives to improve the basic standard of living at the grassroots level in Laos to ensure “no one is left behind”.
