JAPAN SUPPORTS ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PASTORALIST STUDENTS IN HARO DIBE, SOMALI REGION


An Inauguration ceremony for a project for building a Students’ Hostel in Gurra Dhamole Woreda funded through the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) with USD 86,225 took place in Haro Dibe, Somali Region on Friday 19 November 2010.

Mr. Yoshinori Kitamura, First Secretary and Head of the Economic and Cooperation Division of the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Keigo Hosoda, Attache in the Consular and Security Division of the Embassy of Japan, celebrated the completion of the student hostel, together with representatives of the Afder Zone, as well as members of the community.

The Embassy of Japan supported construction of two student hostel blocks, one dry latrine, a rainwater harvesting structure, a shower room and other related structures, and the provision of hostel furniture. This hostel can accommodate 48 students, who are economically poor but eager to study at an advanced level, G5 to G8, even though their families are living the pastoralist way of life (moving from one place to another).

This Project has been implemented by the Partnership for Pastoralists Development Association (PaPda), which was established in 2007 and is working in the Somali Region.

The Embassy of Japan has supported six Grassroots Human Security Projects in the Somali Region for the last five years, including the construction of schools in Gode and Jijiga. The Government of Japan has continued to support the expansion of access to education especially in the rural areas where there is a scarcity of services.