February 19, 2008
The Government of Japan is extending support under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP) to the project "Reconstruction of Wat Bang Dee School", coordinated by the World Vision Foundation Thailand. H.E. Mr. Hideaki Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Chusak Wuthiwaropas, Executive Director of the World Vision Foundation Thailand, signed the funding contract on February 12, 2008 at the Embassy of Japan.
Wat Bang Dee School, which is located in Huai Yot district, Trang province in southern Thailand, accommodates 386 students from the second grade of kindergarten to the sixth grade of elementary school. The school was founded some fifty years ago and is becoming dilapidated. Besides, during the yearly rainy season, it suffers from flood damage from the Trang river, which flows behind the school. As a result, the classes are interrupted and the students are forced to evacuate from the building with their desks and chairs, and there is also serious damage to equipment and teaching materials which are difficult to move.
At the request of the World Vision Foundation Thailand, the Embassy of Japan is providing grant assistance of 3,257,300 baht for the reconstruction of the existing school building. Through this assistance, a safer and more suitable environment for providing a basic education will be ensured in a new two-story ferroconcrete building elevated 1.4 meters higher than the current level, and thus free from flooding.
In addition, the new school building will be open to the local populace as a regional meeting place and center for learning, and will also play the role of community activity center for teachers and parents.
Through the GGP scheme, the Government of Japan is willing to continue its support for the provision of a basic education and for projects which contribute to the local community.
