Japan Provides New Water Supply Systems to Two Villages and School Buildings to Three Primary Schools in the Kingdom of Tonga

The Government of Japan continues to provide development assistance to rural sectors, in the Kingdom of Tonga. This time, two villages and three schools will have new water supply systems and provision of new school buildings. These projects were funded under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.

The Second Secretary at the Embassy of Japan, Ms. Reiko Konosu will be representing the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Masashi Namekawa, to officially open the new water supply facilities at Afa village (Tongatapu) and Tefisi village (Vava...’u Island), as well as to hand over the new school buildings to Petani Christian Side School and Fotua Government Primary School (Ha...’apai Islands), and Tonga Side School Tokomololo (Tongatapu).

Details of the projects and their handing over ceremony schedules are as follows:

- The Project for Upgrading of Petani Christian Side School

A grant of US$82,482.00 (approx. T$154,000.00) was given to cover the material and construction costs of new two classrooms complex and two new water tanks. This project is expected to encourage the children of the area for their learning to work towards a brighter future. The project will also indirectly benefit the people in the local area.

- The Project for Upgrading of Fotua Government Primary School

A grant of US$83,018.00 (approx. T$155,000.00) was given to cover the material and construction costs of new three classrooms complex and one toilet block. This project is expected to encourage the children of the area for their learning to work towards a brighter future. The project will also indirectly benefit the people in the local area.

- The Project for Upgrading of Tonga Side School Tokomololo

A grant of US$77,556.00 (approx. T$147,000.00) was given to cover the material and construction costs of new three classrooms complex (2 classrooms and library) and one new toilet block. This project is expected to encourage the children of the area for their learning to work towards a brighter future. The project will also indirectly benefit the people in the local area.

- The Project for Water Supply for Afa Village

A grant of US$82,487.00 (approx. T$152,000.00) was given to cover the material and construction costs of one water supply system (2 pumps, 5000 gallon tank, tank stand, water meters and pipes). This project is expected to benefit around six hundred people from the local area.



- The Project for Water Supply for Tefisi Village

A grant of US$79,261.00 (approx. T$150,000.00) was given to cover the material and construction costs of one water supply system (pump, 5000 gallon cement water tank, water meters and pipes). This project is expected to benefit around six hundred people from the local area.

The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training, sanitary environment and rural infrastructure. In the Japanese Fiscal Year 2007/08, GGP funded total of US$861,590.00- (approx. T$1,620,000.00-) for eleven projects. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the peoples of Kingdom of Tonga and Japan. Japanese Embassy, 04/03/08.