Oka Hiroshi, Japan’s ambassador to Egypt, inaugurated two projects in Old Cairo as part of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (KUSANONE).
The first project is designed to empower and provide employment support for women in Old Cairo.
The Gozour Foundation for Development is using the close to $84,000 grant to provide handicraft and culinary training to almost 100 young women, as well as establish a kitchen lab, according to the “Ahram Online” website.
During his visit, Ambassador Hiroshi witnessed the results of the project, including the successful completion of training.
The second will enhance the physical and educational environment for hearing-impaired children in the El-Malek El-Saleh district.
The Nardin Association for Social Services will use the nearly $90,000 grant to renovate a facility, Deaf Unit, to provide safer activities for the 60 impaired children and 23 staff members who currently use the facility.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Samy Shehata, chairman of the Nardin Association, together with other speakers expressed their sincere appreciation for Japan’s assistance.
Ambassador Hiroshi emphasized the importance of human security to the central promise of the Sustainable Development Goals that “no one is left behind” by protecting and empowering vulnerable people by focusing on each individual.
He expressed his willingness to continue actively supporting Egypt, which is experiencing remarkable economic growth, to reduce the number of people left behind by said growth as much as possible and spread smiles throughout Egypt.
KUSANONE provides direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in local communities. Japan has provided approximately $10 million to Egypt since 1994, supporting 176 projects in a wide range of sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women empowerment, and support of people with special needs.
