The Japanese Embassy has announced a grant of about $179,000 towards the construction of a primary school and water supply project in two districts in the country.

The money will be channeled through the Rwanda Red Cross Society (RCS) and the Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF), both NGOs.

"Under a one-year contract, the $78,937 portion will go to RCS, which will see two water tanks, and six public fountains established in Migina and Nzovi villages in Nyanza District to benefit about 2,500 people. NBDF  will get $99,692 for the construction of six classrooms,  a library, playgrounds and water tanks in Murehe cell, Rwamagana District ,” Kazuya Ogawa, the Japanese ambassador to Rwanda said at the signing ceremony yesterday.

The ambassador said the development will help the country achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), like reduction of child mortality rates and Universal Primary Education.

He added that under the same project, called the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP), over $5 million has been channeled into education, water, sanitation, and agriculture since 1996.

Ogawa reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting Rwanda achieve its development targets.

Jean  Baptiste Habiyaremye, the NBDF chairperson, said that, if completed, the primary school will benefit over  400 households.

"Children used to walk for about 15km to get to the closest school but with the establishment of this institution, the distance will be reduced,” Habiyaremye said.

The school will also have an adult education department and about 200 adults are expected to benefit from a six-months course annually, according to Habiyaremye.

Apollinaire Karamaga, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Red Cross Society, said the development will help improve sanitation, food security, and assistance to vulnerable children in the area.

He also promised that his organisation will use the grant efficiently.