Over 38,000 residents of Runda Sector in Kamonyi District are set to benefit from a Japanese grant that is set to bankroll a water project that aims at increasing access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation in the area. This was revealed Thursday during a signing ceremony between Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, and Paul Murenzi, the legal representative of ARDE, a local organisation that will implement the project. During the ceremony, the envoy said that Japan has always been interested in helping the Government of Rwanda to achieve its development aspirations, saying they believe in the general direction the country is taking. “Government has a vision of having 100 per cent of Rwandans accessing clean water by 2020 and we want that to happen. Access to clean water is important for any community to develop,” he said. Under this deal, the embassy will provide $86,451 to ARDE, to construct a water system with a pipeline stretching 3.6km, a water collection chamber, among other facilities that will give Runda residents access to clean water. According to Murenzi, the grant will help many people who have been suffering from lack of access to clean water in Kamonyi District. “Though it is not the first time, we are really delighted that the Japanese embassy agreed to fund this water project that is going to help so many disadvantaged people to access clean water. We are working together with the District of Kamonyi in identifying key areas in the district where residents are more hit with water scarcity,” said Murenzi The Embassy of Japan provides grants to NGOs, schools and local authorities for their development projects under the framework of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. For the last 20 years, the Embassy of Japan has supported approximately 90 projects in the areas of education, water and agricultural development. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
