Kathmandu, February 23

The government of Japan has announced that it will provide $495,197 (equivalent to Rs 5.25 million) to Shanti Volunteer Association under the grant assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme for the reconstruction of earthquake ravaged schools in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.

Shanti Volunteer Association, an international NGO based in Japan, will work with a Nepali partner NGO — Community and Rural Development Society Nepal (CARDSN) — to implement the project, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu today.

“A grant contract relating to this project is scheduled to be signed and exchanged on February 27 between Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masashi Ogawa and Eri Yamamoto, chief of Programme Support Division, Shanti Volunteer Association.”

The goal of the project is to reconstruct school buildings in earthquake affected

areas with earthquake-resilient technology, develop school level disaster  preparedness plans, and increase awareness and provide education in disaster preparedness in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The implementing agency will have to follow earthquake-resilient building designs, approved by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).