Two local non-governmental organisations on Wednesday signed grant contracts with the Japanese embassy, worth $181,043 (about Rwf124 million) to improve quality education and access to safe water among vulnerable people in local communities.

The organisations are Rwanda Health Environment Project Initiative and Rwandese Endogenous Development Association (ARDE /Kubaho)

Speaking during the signing, the Japanese ambassador to Rwanda, Kazuya Ogawa, said the donation is under the Japanese grant assistance project dubbed Grassroots Humanity Security Projects (GGP) that aims at supporting local communities in the areas of agriculture, water, sanitation and education.

"The projects are expected to boost efforts of the Rwandan society to achieve Universal Primary Education and reduce child mortality under millennium development goals,” the envoy said.

Paul Murenzi, the legal representative of ARDE/KUBAHO, one of the beneficiaries that received $95,026, said the grant will be spent on constructing a water supply facility in Gifumba Cell, Muhanga District, a project they will jointly implement with the Water and Sanitation Company (Wasac).

The project will involve construction of a 2km water pipeline, two big water tanks with capacity for 20m3 each, four public fountains with kiosks and a public water source for livestock.

"It is in line with the government target of availing clean water to all Rwandans by 2018. The support will bring clean water to about 2,000 people in Gifumba cell including the historically marginalised,” he said.

He said that his organisation also trains locals on hygiene and sanitation, among others.

The association operates in 17 districts contributing to various programmes like water resources management, environment conservation, rural livelihoods and capacity building.

Fabian Ruzigana, the chairman of Rwandese Health Environment Project Initiative, the other beneficiary, signed for $86,017 that he said will be used to construct a nursery and primary school through their Samaritan International School Project in Karangazi Sector, Nyagatare District.

Ruzigana said the school will comprise six classrooms, storage, and an office block with necessary equipment, toilets and two water tanks.

"About 270 poor students will access quality education, thus reducing the number of dropouts in the district,” he said.

He added that they are mainly targeting orphans, the poor as well as disabled.

He says once the school is completed, the kindergarten which currently operates from a rented building will be shifted to the new structure.

Since the Japanese framework of Grassroots Human Security Projects, the supported grassroots activities took over $5.8 million, especially in areas of education, water and sanitation as well as agriculture.

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