An Inauguration Ceremony for the Project for the Expansion of the Gahrad Medhanialem Primary School, Gurage Zone, SNNPRS, was held on Saturday 21 April, 2012. This project was funded by the Japanese Grant-in-aid Scheme for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), amounting to USD 112,340. H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki KISHINO, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, celebrated the completion of two school blocks, together Ato Mesganu Arega, Ethiopian Consul General in Dubai. Representatives of the Gurage Zone, as well as members of the local community were also present.

During the Inauguration Ceremony, H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki KISHINO, the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, expressed his congratulations when handing over the newly built school buildings to the community.   His Excellency also thanked the community for their relentless efforts and the Enemor and Ener Woreda Education Office for the timely completion of the project. The residents, particularly the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) participated in the project by offering their labour and construction materials, the Ambassador said. He expressed his hope that the community would make the most use of these newly built blocks and enjoy great benefits.  He also emphasized, “It is important to maintain the school facilities in good condition so that they would serve the local interests for a long time”. 

The project has upgraded the Gahrad Medhanialem Primary School from a first cycle to a second cycle primary school, which currently enrolls 414 children for Grades 1 to 4 and kindergarten. Through this project, two blocks with a total of ten classrooms have been newly constructed and fully furnished with 184 combined desks and chairs, eight blackboards and eight teachers’ desks and chairs.  As a result, about 500 additional students will be enrolled for Grades 5 to 8.

The GGP scheme was first introduced in 1989, and thus it has a history of 22 years to date. In Ethiopia, since 1997, over 300 projects have been implemented under this scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services, and other basic human needs. In JFY 2011 (1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012), the Embassy of Japan awarded grants to 19 projects submitted by various not-for-profit organizations and local authorities throughout Ethiopia for the economic and social benefit of underprivileged people.