Ammon News - The handover ceremony of refrigerated trucks was held on Sunday March 12th 2023, in the presence of Mr. OKUYAMA Jiro, Ambassador of Japan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Mr. Samer Balkar, Director General of Dar Abu Abdullah Association for Philanthropy and Development (DAA).

In March 2022, the Government of Japan extended a grant of sixty-six thousand eight hundred and two US dollars (US$ 66,802) to DAA for the provision of two refrigerated trucks under the scheme called Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP).

This grant assistance aims to enhance the sustainability of micro and home-based businesses that DAA has supported through the provision of two refrigerated trucks to the association. With a mission to empower the most vulnerable individuals across the country and sustain their livelihood, DAA has helped more than 76 low-income households to establish micro and home-based businesses such as hydroponic farming, dairy products and handicrafts.

By providing two refrigerated trucks, microbusiness owners will be able to transport their products to the market constantly and sustainably at an affordable price, and generate more profits that will improve their standard of living. In addition, 62% of microbusiness owners are women, contributing to addressing the high percentage of women’s unemployment rate.

In the speech delivered during the handover ceremony, Ambassador OKUYAMA expressed his appreciation to DAA’s social contribution and stated: “In Jordan, the high unemployment rate is a significant problem. Especially youth and women's unemployment rates are around 30 % that make their labor force participation rates one of the lowest in the world. We highly appreciate that you initiated through this project to empower more vulnerable people economically and to tackle high unemployment rates at the grass-roots level”.

Director General of DAA, Samer Balkar thanked the Government of Japan and the Embassy of Japan for this generous grant and said: “This generous grant from the Government of Japan will enable Dar Abu Abdullah to provide better services to beneficiaries and enhance their access to market, leading to improving their profitability.”

Under Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, Japan has extended more than 10 million US Dollars for 157 projects to non-governmental organizations, schools, hospitals, and local governments in Jordan since 1993.