Japan’s KUSANONE Project Brings Joy to Abdeen, Cairo

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, His Excellency Mr. Oka Hiroshi, the Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, witnessed the successful completion of the Japanese “KUSANONE” project (Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects). This initiative aimed to create a safe and inclusive educational environment for children with disabilities in the Abdeen area, implemented by the Association of Popular Participation with a grant amounting to approximately US$65,000.

The “KUSANONE” project significantly contributes to enhancing access to quality education for students at El Wehda El Arabeya Primary School. This is achieved through the renovation of the school building, the provision of educational tools and supplies, and the expansion of the school’s capacity to accommodate more students.

During the ceremony, Mr. Ayman Mousa, the First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Director of the Cairo Directorate, expressed his appreciation for the cooperation between Japan and Egypt, particularly in the field of education and intellectual development.

Ambassador Oka underscored the pivotal role of civil society in Egypt’s educational advancement and expressed his optimism that the support provided by “KUSANONE” would benefit the Abdeen community for years to come. He also noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of “KUSANONE” in Egypt and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to actively supporting Egypt through this program.

Mr. Ibrahim Abdelrady, Chairman of the Association of Popular Participation, expressed gratitude for Japan’s “KUSANONE” assistance in supporting the children of the Abdeen area.

The “KUSANONE” program offers direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations, including NGOs, in local communities. Since 1994, Japan has extended more than US$10 million in aid to Egypt, supporting 179 projects across the country in collaboration with 129 NGOs. These projects span various sectors, including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women’s empowerment, and support for individuals with special needs.

The Embassy of Japan welcomes applications from NGOs for new projects. For more information, please visit the embassy’s website.