An Inauguration ceremony for the Project for the Expansion of　the Makbasa Korke Primary School, Awasa Zuria Woreda, SNNPRS, was held on Friday 11 November 2011. This Project was funded by the Japanese Grant-in-aid Scheme for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), amounting to USD106,379. Mr. Hajime KITAOKA, Minister, Economic Affairs Division, Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, celebrated the completion of the school blocks, together with representatives of the Sidama Zone, as well as members of the community.
　
In this project, the Embassy of Japan supported the construction of two school blocks with eight classrooms, and provided 200 combined desks, 8 black boards, and 8 chairs and tables for teachers. In this village, there are many school aged children today. Although some children want to go to school near their homes, there is often no capacity for them. In particular, Makbasa Korke Primary School, which was constructed by the community in 2006, is already overcrowded. There are more than 105 students in each classroom and the lessons are divided into two shifts. Also, one block is only made from local wood and plastic sheets, so that it could easily collapse in storms or rain thus endangering the children.

In order to change such a situation, this project aimed at improving the educational environment for students in Makbasa village by the abovementioned construction.

This Project has been implemented by Manna Child Sponsorship Family Aid and Community Development Organization which has been working since 1994, and has already constructed one school in Awasa Zuria in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in 2006.

The GGP scheme was first introduced in 1989, and thus it has a history of 21 years to date. In Ethiopia, since 1997, around 300 projects have been implemented under this scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services, and other basic human needs. In 2011 JFY (April 2011 – March 2012), the Embassy of Japan is planning to award grants to 18 projects submitted by various not-for-profit organizations and local authorities throughout Ethiopia for the economic and social benefit of underprivileged people in rural areas.  One of the characteristics of GGPs is that they are directly beneficial to local residents.