To-date since its inception in Namibia in 1997, the Japanese Embassy through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) has granted assistance to over 60 schools.

GGP aims at achieving direct and immediate impact on the wellbeing of disadvantaged communities at a grassroots level by supporting relatively small development projects in areas such as education, agriculture and health, to be implemented by non-profit organisations and local authorities.

The St Barnabas Primary School in Windhoek was the latest to benefit from the project with a grant contract of N.dollars 955 072 to help build new classrooms and a library at the school.

At the signing held at the Japanese Embassy recently, that country’s ambassador to Namibia Hideaki Harada said the embassy has noted the historical importance of that school which played a major role in educating Namibia’s leaders.

“We are happy to be able to support your request to build additional classrooms and a library this time,” Harada noted.

St Barnabas Primary School principal Nahasson Mbangura expressed gratitude for the donation, adding that he strongly believes that a library is a very important resource centre for learners to develop their reading and learning skills.

“We will, as a result of an independent library and classrooms, have an independent computer laboratory. This, too, will assist us towards the development of our learners’ IT skills. We are striving to excel in primary school education and this generous donation from the Government and people of Japan has come at the right and exciting time,” Mbangura stated.

The school will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023.

The signing of the respective grant contracts with three more schools are also underway.

The schools are; Ontanda Primary School in Omusati Region, Savo Nuts Private School in Ohangwena Region and Malundu Junior Primary School in Zambezi Region.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency