Japan supports early childhood-care project

The Japanese government provided USD 541,620 assistance for an early childhood care and development project in Trincomalee district.

The project titled ‘Early Childhood Care and Development Project’ in Trincomalee district, phase 3 will be implemented by a Japanese NGO, Save the Children Japan (SCJ). This is a follow up project from the previous two projects that helped to construct and renovate pre-schools and provide training for pre-school teachers in the district.

The phase 3 project aims to develop sustainable system to offer early childcare by improving networks within communities and with local authorities, providing trainings for pre-school teachers and community members and constructing pre-schools for the children of recently resettled communities.

It is expected that more than 1,000 families and their community members will benefit from the project. The project is realized by the Japan-NGO Cooperation Grant Scheme, which supports economical and social developments and emergency humanitarian reliefs through Japanese NGOs. SCJ Representative Katsuya Yoshida said: “Our mission is to inspire breakthrough in the way we treat children. This project aims that all stakeholders including local authorities, communities, teachers and children themselves become aware that they are the very agent that can bring lasting changes in children’s lives.” The grant contract was signed between, Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo and Katsuya Yoshida, SCJ, on December 1, 2011 at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.