An Inauguration ceremony for a project for expanding the first cycle primary school in Derumemusa, Oromia Regional State, took place on Saturday Februrary 5, 2011. The project was funded by the Japanese government through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme with USD 86,308, and implemented by a local NGO named Rainbow Humanitarian Caretaker Foundation.  Mr. Yoshiaki Ito, Minister, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan, celebrated the completion of the project, together with Ms. Weyenshet Shiferaw, the President of Rainbow Humanitarian Caretaker Foundation, government representatives of the Oromia Region and Derumemusa, as well as members of the community.

This project aimed at expanding the first cycle primary school into a full cycle school in Derumemusa which is located between the Regional States of Amhara and Oromia, where students come from both regions.  This unique situation necessitates that classes at this school are conducted in both Amharic and Oromiffa languages.  It also enables students here to appreciate two different cultures through dancing, music and art classes.  Before constructing the full cycle school, there was no second cycle primary school in the area.  Therefore, students had no choice but to attend a school over 20 km away.  Responding to the community’s request for a full cycle school, this project has constructed two classroom blocks that will benefit more than 500 students in the area.

Since 1997, the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia has supported over 270 Grassroots Human Security Projects throughout Ethiopia, in education, water, agriculture, health and other areas of basic human needs.  The Government of Japan has continued to support a variety of projects at the grassroots level for the marginalized and vulnerable people.