An inauguration ceremony took place on 14 April, 2011 to mark the completion of “The Project for Constructing a School Inclusive of Children with Disabilities in Alemgena Ketema, Oromia Regional State”. This project was funded by the Japanese Government through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme, with a grant amounting to USD 95,796. The project partner which implemented the project was the Help for Persons with Disabilities-Organization (HPD-O).

H.E. Mr. Yoshiaki Ito, the Minister and Deputy Head of Mission of Japan to Ethiopia, celebrated the completion of the project, together with local officials, as well as members of the community.

Providing educational opportunities for people with disability has always been a great challenge in the Alemgena Area. Of the 13 kindergartens and 3 elementary schools in the area, only one school, run by HPD-O, is open to students with disabilities. However, even this school was vulnerable to changes, such as a sharp rise in the land prices, as they were renting buildings to run their school. Over the last years, the school has been forced to cut down on teachers and classes to pay its rent.

This project was initiated with the aim to improve the above-mentioned situation. Three school blocks and one latrine were constructed to provide a stable learning environment for 400 students, both with and without disabilities, who are expected to start their education in the newly constructed schools. School furniture has also been installed to secure a better learning environment. With adequate facilities of their own, the HPD-O are now able to provide inclusive education for students in the surrounding area.

Since 1997, the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia has supported around 290 Grassroots Human Security Projects throughout Ethiopia, in areas of basic human need such as education, water, agriculture, and health. The Government of Japan has supported and will continue to support projects at the grassroots level which are beneficial to marginalized and vulnerable people in Ethiopia.