Japan grants $448,231 for strengthening psychological care at Russeifa youth rehabilitation centre

AMMAN — The Government of Japan has decided to present a grant of $448,231 to a Japanese NGO, Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCOD) for the capacity enhancement of a rehabilitation centre in Russeifa.

The grant contract was signed on Monday by Ambassador of Japan to Jordan Hidenao Yanagi and Country Representative of NICCOD Jordan Office Isaka Tomohito, according to an embassy statement.

This grant assistance aims to support the capacity enhancement of the Osama Ben-Zaid Education and Rehabilitation Centre, which is a pre-trial detention and rehabilitation facility for boys between the ages of 16 and 18 years old located in Russeifa, Zarqa. 

Under the current regional circumstances that the Kingdom faces, it is “critically important” to enhance the capacity of the justice system in order to provide and implement appropriate rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes as well as reduce repeat crimes after inmates are released, the statement said. 

Based on this recognition, the government of Japan decided to offer this grant assistance for the implementation of the first year of a three-year project with the aim of contributing to maintaining stability in Jordan and the region.

The project covers efforts to improve the environment of correctional education and rehabilitation activities at the centre, develop the psychological support capacity of staff and exchange opinions with local communities and the centre, according to the statement. 

All the activities will be implemented utilising Japan’s experience and knowledge in this field in order to contribute to reducing repeat crimes among juvenile criminals in Jordan and supporting the centre to serve as a bridge between juveniles and society, the statement said.

NICCOD is a Japanese NGO that has been working in emergency relief and supporting self-reliance with consideration to the environment since 1979, according to the statement. 

Since the onset of the Syrian crisis, the cooperation has been engaging in humanitarian support activities for Syrian refugees and underprivileged Jordanians living in Zarqa, and its activities have also been expanded to Zaatari refugee camp since August 2014.