Women, youth NGOs get $100,000 Japan grant

Two NGOs involved in assisting vulnerable youth and women to acquire life skills were, yesterday, given a donation of $107,110 (approx Rwf64 million) by the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda.The two organisations, Ruhengeri Diocesan Commission for Youth and HIV Control and Rivers of Nations Foundation, received the grants under the Grant Assistance to Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), a scheme signed in 1996 between the government and the Japanese embassy.The agreement was signed between representatives of the two organisations and the Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda, Kunio Hatanaka.Speaking to The New Times shortly after the signing ceremony, Hatanaka said that his government had channelled $3.5 million since 1996 to support grassroots activities such as the construction of primary and vocational schools. “We hope these organisations will use the money wisely towards the improvement of the vulnerable people’s lives.” Pastor Christian Gisanura of Rivers of Nations Foundation stated that his organisation would use the grant to construct a vocational training centre for vulnerable youth and women.“We shall use part of the grant to facilitate training in banana fibre textile production for needy women in areas renowned for banana plantation as well as basket weaving,” he noted.Fr. Janvier Nduwayezu of the Ruhengeri Diocesan Commission for Youth and HIV Control said his organisation would channel the funds towards the construction of an agricultural processing plant to produce avocado oil and soap and targets to train about 300 young people in Musanze District.“We want to train the young people in our area in various skills related to avocado oil and soap production so that they can generate income to sustain themselves and their families.”

National

Women, youth NGOs get $100,000 Japan grant