Youths from Sigatoka have something to look forward to with the recent funding of the Nasau Youth Training Centre Upgrade Project by the Embassy of Japan.
The Japanese Embassy will provide an additional learning space to the facilities at the centre with a grant assistance of $222,204.
The assistance comes under the Embassy’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
This month the ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Kawakami Fumihiro, and the Minister for Youth and Sports, Parveen Kumar, signed the grant contract to formalise Japan’s assistance in Suva.
Mr Fumihiro said he was pleased that through the grant the Government of Japan was going to provide $222, 204 for the construction of a learning facility for the newly introduced Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation –Certificate 1 program.
He said in his request for assistance, Mr Kumar stressed the importance of providing a second chance at education for young people, especially for those who are not part of the mainstream education system or who upon reaching employment age have faced challenges in getting a decent job.
“As the minister mentioned, I also believe that education for young people, their capacity building and upgrading of their skills are extremely important for the further development of Fiji in the future,” Mr Fumihiro said.
“We are very pleased to be able to support the Nasau Youth Training Center, the main facility for youth education in Fiji.
“I highly appreciate the implementation of the curriculum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the new classrooms which will be built with the support of Japan.
“As disaster risk reduction and climate change are part of the biggest challenges facing Fiji, the cooperation of the Government of Japan with the Ministry of Youth’s efforts on these issues will further enhance the value of the project.
“It gives me great joy to see that the formalisation of this grant.”
He said it was the tangible realisation of Japan’s commitment under the Japan-Pacific Bond Policy or KIZUNA Policy announced by the former Japanese prime minister, Suga Yoshihide, at the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) held last year.
“Through its new certificate level program, this training centre will cover two priority cooperation areas of the KIZUNA policy namely Climate Change and Disaster Resilience and Strengthening the Foundation for Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development,” he said.
“I am happy to say that since 1990, Japan has implemented 411 projects through its grassroots grant assistance scheme with the total value exceeding $US30.8 million ($F64.7m).
“In recent years, the embassy has been implementing about 10 grassroots grant projects annually. In March last year, I had the privilege of signing with Minister Bala, the project for the provision of livestock breeding facility for livelihoods of youth clubs in this same venue.
“We strongly hope that these two projects will help empower youths to improve their livelihoods, increase their participation in youth education, capacity building and skills development.
“This project will also contribute towards making youth’s better custodians of the environment, as well as of the future of the country.”
He said as seen last year, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games, the Fijian rugby sevens men’s and women’s teams won gold and bronze medals respectively.
“Despite the suffering caused by the second wave of COVID-19, the ability of the youths of Fiji to excel at the world’s biggest sporting stage, brought happiness and hope to all Fijian because youths are our future.”
He said the project would further strengthen the friendship between the governments and the people of Japan and Fiji.
