On December 8th 2010, Ambassador of Japan Norihiro OKUDA extended a helping hand to 56 primary schools to upgrade the learning settings in Assuit.

   The grant assistance amounting to US$ 104,475 will be extended by the Government of Japan to an Egyptian NGO, El Salam Association for Social Care, for the purpose of purchasing school desks and chairs. This assistance will provide learning places to over 35,000 school pupils who have been facing difficulties. This assistance is thus expected to upgrade the learning environment and prevent dropouts.

   This assistance is a part of the “School for All” campaign announced by the Government of Japan at the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit this September. Under the campaign, Japan will endeavor to help create a quality educational environment for at least 7 million children in the world in five years from 2011.

   This grant is extended under the Japanese Government’s Assistance Scheme for Grassroots and Human Security Projects. This scheme was launched in Egypt in 1994, and since then 130 projects totaling over US$ 5 million have been implemented.