Ammon News - The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant of US $709,227 to World Vision Japan (WVJ), a Japanese Non-Governmental Organization, to support the education enrollment and learning for vulnerable children in Irbid.

The grant contract was signed on Tuesday, between Okuyama Jiro, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom and Ikenoya Rie, Project Manager of World Vision Japan deployed to World Vision’s office in Jordan.

This project is the third phase of a three-year project and the Government of Japan had extended a grant of 764,211 US dollars for the first phase and 729,903 US dollars for the second phase.

The grant assistance aims to support the improvement of the educational environment, especially for vulnerable children, including out-of-school children, children with special needs and refugee children; and to enhance the capacity of teachers and school staff to guarantee inclusive education in public schools in Irbid through the provision of English and life skills learning support classes, barrier-free school facilities and teaching materials.

Based on the organization’s vast experience in this field, the project is expected to contribute to reducing social disparities, and empowering vulnerable children in Jordan. Since the onset of Syrian crisis in 2011, Jordan has provided humanitarian support for Syrian refugees.

It is critically important to mitigate Jordan’s burden on general social services such as education, health care and water sanitation that are overstretched due to the influx of Syrian refugees.

In addition, inclusive education will play a key role in realising a society where "no one will be left behind" by offering equal educational opportunities for the vulnerables. Based on these recognitions, the Government of Japan once again decided to extend the grant assistance for the project.

World Vision Japan in collaboration with World Vision Syria Response Office has provided support for education in public schools in both Irbid and Zarqa governorates since 2014. In addition, the organization implemented a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assistance in Al Azraq Refugee Camp to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus among the camp residents from 2021 to 2022 which was implemented with World Vision Syria Response. Petra