Japan grants $709,227 for strengthening Education Enrolment for vulnerable groups in Irbid

AMMAN — The Government of Japan has once again decided to extend a grant $709,227 to World Vision Japan (WVJ), a Japanese non-governmental organisation, to support the education enrolment and learning for vulnerable children in Irbid, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The grant contract was signed on June 4th, 2024, between Okuyama Jiro, ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom and Ikenoya Rie, project manager of WVJ 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 dollars for the first phase and $729,903 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 organisation’s vast experience in this field, the project is expected to contribute to reducing social disparities and empowering vulnerable children in Jordan, the statement said.

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, healthcare 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 vulnerable. Based on these recognitions, the government of Japan once again decided to extend the grant assistance for the project.

WVJ 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 organisation implemented a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene assistance in 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, according to the statement.