13 Nov 2017

Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) volunteer programmes support activities of Japanese citizens who wish to cooperate in the economic and social development as well as the reconstruction of developing countries.

Speaking at a press tour on Japan’s development cooperation with Botswana, coordinator of the Volunteer Programme with JICA in Botswana, Mr Hiroyuki Tsuruta said the government of Japan promoted socio-economic development in Botswana by combining JICA’s volunteer programmes and grass roots grant aid.

He said through these cooperation activities, participating volunteers could not only contribute to the development of partner countries but also gain valuable experience in terms of international goodwill, mutual understanding and an expansion in their international perspectives.

Mr Tsuruta indicated that JICA volunteers lived and worked at the grassroots level, carrying out activities with an emphasis on fostering self-reliance for sustainable change.

“Since its first cohort to Botswana in 1992, more than 300 JICA volunteers have worked alongside local communities. 16 volunteers are currently working in Botswana in various fields ranging from sports, social welfare, auto mechanics, IT and graphic design amongst others,” he said.

He noted that Japan’s grant schemes, being the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) and Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP) supported projects to assist non-profit organisations such as non-governmental organisations, educational institutes and local governments.

“GGP supports people centered, relatively small development projects which have direct and immediate impact on the well-being of disadvantaged communities at grassroots level in the areas of education and skills development and the empowerment of vulnerable groups,” he said.

Mr Tsuruta further said GCGP provided financial assistance to support the implementation of cultural and higher education projects including sports.

“The total number of GGP and GCGP projects in Botswana is 55 as of November 2017 and the total amount of the projects is over 340 million Japanese Yen (approximately 30 million Pula),” he said.

Some of the volunteers include Ms Aiko Nakamura and Ms Avumi Kanda, who have been dispatched to Botswana Softball Association (BSA) and ChildLine Botswana respectively.

JICA has dispatched Ms Nakamura and granted funds through GCGP to BSA and the grant is used to improve and upgrade the current softball stadium and provide new softball equipment.

Ms Nakamura has played as an infielder in Japan and her career saw her being awarded the best nine award twice.

She moved to Botswana in 2017 and joined BSA, her role is to provide technical advice, training and know how to teams and players at different levels including the national teams of Botswana.

Ms Nakamura also accompanied the male national team as a coach to the World Championship held in Canada this year in July and contributed to the team’s best rank of position eight at the competition.

Through JICA’s additional support, in February 2018, 20 female softball players from Chukyo University would visit Botswana for a month and are set to play friendly matches with local teams and do a bit of coaching as well.

With regards to ChildLine Botswana, JICA has allocated grants funded through GGP and a volunteer, Ms Kanda.

The grant was used to construct a counselling centre and acquiring equipment for toll free helpline to ChildLine.

Some of JICA’s projects in Botswana are the renewal energy project that Japan extended a grant of P84 million, the digital migration project, the project for enhancing national forest monitoring system, Kazungula bridge construction project and OSBP and several scholarships that the government of Japan has extended to Botswana. BOPA