03 Nov 2016

Japanese Embassy has given more than P200 000 to Humana People to People Organization for the improvement of a vocational training centre they are running in Selebi Phikwe.

Speaking during the grant ceremony in Gaborone on Wednesday, Japanese ambassador Mr Masahiro Onishi said this is the first project being approved for the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistant for Grass-roots Human Security Projects for the fiscal year 2016.

He said this project seeks to address both social and economic development for the marginalised communities  through empowering vocational skills.

As for Humana People to People, Mr Onishi revealed that it became the 45th organization to be awarded the grant since the project started the assistance in Botswana in 1997.

“The recipient, Humana People to People has been working in Selebi Phikwe for the past 10 years with the aim of eradicating poverty and supporting orphans and vulnerable children,” he said.

Mr Onishi noted that during their commitments to marginalised groups such as people with disabilities, unemployed women and youth, they realised the necessity of offering vocational skills for income generating skills and opened community Centre to offer those.

“I am pleased that our assistance will really enhance their activities by providing equipment, machinery and materials for practical training such as sewing, agriculture and poultry at this new centre,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Onishi said, as the name of their government’s grant scheme indicates, they are trying to reach on pressing needs at grass-roots level throughout this country.

For his part, country director of Humana People to People Mr Moses Zulu expressed his gratitude towards the Japanese embassy.

He said they grant they received will go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in Botswana.ENDS