A grant contract for the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects was signed on Monday, in the presence of Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj, between the Japanese Embassy, represented by Ambassador Oka Hiroshi, and the Takatof Association for Development, represented by Dr. Hossam Badrawi, Chairman of the Board.

The grant assistance, amounting to $74, 274, is extended by the Embassy of Japan to Takatof Association for Development for the purpose of constructing three pre-school classes in Salah El-Din elementary school in the city of Hope (Ezbet Al-Haggana previously).The project will establish three new pre-school classes as well as upgrade the physical school facility.

This is the fourth collaboration between the embassy of Japan and Takatof Association for Development in the field of education. Previously, the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects of the Japanese embassy funded the development of Atef Afwa primary school for boys in Beni Suef governorate in 2016 and its kindergartens. The Grant also helped establish a much needed kindergarten at Orouba primary school in Imbaba, Giza governorate, in 2019. In 2021, it helped establish a number of  kindergartens at the City of Workers primary school as well as kindergartens at Omar Makram primary school in Imbaba, Giza governorate.

During the signing ceremony, ambassador Hiroshi praised the valuable role played by Egyptian civil society organisations, especially the Takatof Association, stressing that this project is another example of Japan's interest in education and early childhood because of its impact on children's development.

"This is a concrete example of cooperation in line with the "Egypt-Japan Education Partnership" announced in 2016 during the visit of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Japan," he noted.

Dr. Badrawi stated that providing a safe educational environment, active learning opportunities and quality educators are the key to attain such quality education in Egypt. He stressed that such support in the field of primary education will significantly contribute to developing human resources that create the nation's future.

In her speech, the Minister of Social Solidarity expressed her appreciation of the Japanese government for its support to improve the quality of education in Egypt. She also expressed appreciation for Takatof Association and its board of directors as one of the associations she takes pride in for its work on early childhood in collaboration with the ministry. "It [Takatof Association] is one of the associations that work on the development of children and parents, health and human capital," El-Qabbaj said.

She also emphasised that the ministry is committed to early childhood as one of the most important elements of the education sector.

This project comes within the framework of the Japanese grant programme "Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects", which provides direct financial support to non-profit organisations, including NGOs, in various fields such as education, health, inclusion of persons with disabilities, vocational training, empowerment of women, and environment among others.

The Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects are commonly referred to as KUSANONE in Japanese. "Kusa" means "grass" and "Ne" means "roots" in Japanese.

KUSANONE programme is provided by the embassy of Japan in partnership with the civil society in Egypt (non-profit organizations and local government bodies).

The programme has provided $10 million in grants to Egypt since 1994 and has supported 174 projects so far.