DUSHANBE, March 11, 2010, Asia-Plus — The Government of Japan supports socially vulnerable people in Tajikistan through rehabilitation of the center for visually impaired people and construction of women’s center, according the Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe.
Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, Mr. Umar Yorov, Director of Qurghon Teppa Social Rehabilitation Center of the Tajikistan Blind Society, and Ms. Gavhar Khojayeva, Director of Public Organization “Sayor” in Vahdat District signed grant contracts for the total amount of US$ 168,367 with the presence of Mr. Emin Sanginov, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection today. These projects are granted under Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass–roots Human Security Projects (GGP).
The Blind Society of Qurghon Teppa is granted US$ 74,312 for “The Project for Self-Support Promotion of Visually Impaired Persons in Qurghon Teppa.” Established in 1957, Qurghon Teppa Social Rehabilitation Center of the Tajikistan Blind Society has contributed to social welfare of visually impaired people, through organizing many activities such as sewing and wire net production with 300 staff and trainees. However, due to the severe damage of the facility without rehabilitation for a long period, the Center had to reduce its activities with only 37 staff and trainees. There is an urgent need to prepare environment where visually impaired people in Qurghon Teppa will have access to job training and find employment opportunity.
Under the project, the building of the Center will be rehabilitated and equipment for job training will be installed. After the project implementation, 112 visually impaired people in Qurghon Teppa City are expected to find job opportunity. Improved economic condition will contribute to self-promotion among the people with disability, raising awareness on the living condition of the people with disability in the Republic of Tajikistan.
US$ 94,055 is allocated for “The Project for Construction of Women’s Center in Vahdat District” by the Government of Japan. Without sufficient system of social protection, women are often forced into socially vulnerable situation. In order to support women who face with problems, public organization “Sayor” is working for realization of women’s rights, based on the idea that chronic poverty, low educational level and lack of skills and profession lead women’s vulnerable status in the society.
Through the project, Women’s Center will be constructed with 8 rooms including consultation room, job training rooms and conference-hall. In the Center, the Sayor will organize a variety of training programs including computer, business English, sewing and cooking classes to develop women’s skills. Psychological and legal consultation to the 123,000 women of the District will be also launched. Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and Population will send trainers for the programs in the center. Upon implementation of the project, it is expected that self-support of women will be promoted.
Through the projects which target the most vulnerable population, the Government of Japan assists to improve the people’s life condition in Tajikistan.
The Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) provides support to projects in the human security sectors at the grassroots level. The GGP is provided to local governments, NGOs, and educational and medical institutions in developing countries. The GGP has extended more than US$ 16.9 million for 250 projects in since 1996.
