Japan grants P3.6M-aid for women, Japanese-Filipino kids

Former migrant Filipino women and their Japanese-Filipino children stand to benefit from a P3.6-million grant for livelihood projects from the Japanese government. The Japanese Embassy and the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) have recently signed a grant contract to facilitate livelihood and capacity building programs for women and their Japanese-Filipino children. Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and DAWN Executive Director Carmelita Nuqui signed the grant contract for “The Project for Building Capacities of Women and their Japanese-Filipino Children" at the Embassy of Japan on Feb. 5. According to the Japanese Embassy, the project amounting to $78,795 (P3.6 million) is funded through the Embassy of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). "With the aim of reaching out to more women and children, DAWN sought assistance from the Embassy of Japan to expand the training programs and seminars," the Japanese Embassy explained in an article posted on its Web site. According to the article, the growing concern over distressed migrant women and their children, particularly those returned from Japan, resulted in the establishment of DAWN in 1996. In support of the project, the Embassy is providing various sewing and handloom weaving machines. It is also supporting the production and dissemination of a book that contains typical situations and experiences of Japanese-Filipino children in the Philippines to promote society's understanding. Some expenses necessary for the trainings and seminars are also shouldered by the grant assistance. GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of December 2009, more than 400 grassroots projects funded by GGP have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations, according to the Embassy. The total grant for these projects to date amounts to US$17,418,724. - Jerrie Abella/KBK, GMANews.TV