Japan’s GGP Coordinator at Gaborone Embassy, Reika Horio leaves Botswana

Coordinator of the Government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Ms Reika Horio concludes her contract with the Embassy of Japan in Botswana on December 27. She will leave Botswana the next day (December 28th) “for good,” she shared with The Midweek Sun. Horio described her two and half years of service for the betterment of Botswana as truly remarkable, an honour and “great pleasure,” which she will cherish in her future assignments. The Government of Japan’s grant scheme ‘Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects’ (GGP) was first introduced in Botswana in 1997 to assist non-governmental organisations, educational institutes, medical institutes, and local governments. The grant supports people-centred, relatively small development projects of such organisations which have direct and immediate impact on the well-being of disadvantaged communities at grassroots level. Horio arrived in Botswana during the tenure of former Ambassador, Masahiro Onishi and is currently serving under Ambassador Kozio Takeda. During her service she presided over a total of 11 projects worth US$ 615, 817 that have brought an immense difference to the livelihoods of peoples in rural and remote areas. In the year 2016 alone, GGP provided $19,937 to Humana People to People to improve the Vocational Training Centre in Selebi Phikwe; $15,204 to Bobonong Community Home Based Care Trust to improve the Bobonong Community Farm; $78,459 to Okavango Sub District Council to construct a Pre-school in Tlhale Primary, Gumare; $76,175 to Tsabong Sub District Council to construct a Classroom Block at Mc Carthy’s Rust Primary School in Kgalagadi District and $18,795 to Zwenshambe Brigades to improve Auto-Mechanics Training Programme. Again in 2017 the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects funded the construction of Oodi Pre-school in Kgatleng District to the tune of $67,505; Construction of Special Education Unit at Kgale Hill Junior Secondary School in South East District for $ 77,488 and construction of Malatswae Pre-school in Central District at a cost of $82,720. This year, the Grant funded the construction of Lerolwane Pre-school in Southern District at $86,400; Construction of Guidance & Counselling Block at Baratani Junior Secondary School for $46,884 as well as the construction of Guidance & Counselling Block at Motswasele Junior Secondary School at the cost of $46,250. Horio told The Midweek Sun that since the inception of the Grant Assistance scheme, a total 55 projects have either been built or assistsed in Botswana as at December 2018.