The signing ceremony of the Grant Contract for the “Project for the Construction of a Vocational Training Center in Wangsisna, Thimphu, for the Empowerment of Economically and Socially Vulnerable Women”, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), was held on 5th March, 2015, in the city of Thimphu.

In this ceremony, the Grant Contract was signed by Ms. Chimi Wangmo, Executive Director, RENEW, the recipient organization of this grant, and H. E. Mr. Takeshi Yagi, Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan. The ceremony was attended by around 30 people which included the people concerned of RENEW.

This project supports the recipient in constructing a new vocational training center for women at the shelter in the District of Thimphu in Bhutan. The project totals US$ 97,659. Violence against women is a rising social issue these days in Bhutan too, which derives, among others, from social and economic vulnerability of women in the society.

The Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Project scheme was established in 1989 to meet the diverse basic human needs in developing countries. The Government of Japan has supported in Bhutan such projects as construction of bridges and school buildings, as well as provision of fire engines and compactor trucks.

Although the GGP to Bhutan has been given to central and local authorities of Bhutan so far, the Government of Japan decided this time to assist a Bhutanese NGO for the first time.

The recipient “RENEW” is a NGO founded by Her Majesty the Queen Mother in 2002, which supports, all over the country, female victims of domestic violence and rape. RENEW has run a shelter in Wangsisna, Thimphu since 2008, and has provided approximately 20 refugees at any time, who evacuated from various places in Bhutan, with food, clothing, shelter, legal assistance, psychological counseling, as well as vocational training and micro finance, which encourage self-reliance, all free of charge.

As there is a growing need for vocational training for women, RENEW plans to cover, in the near future, not only shelter inmates but also poor women living near the shelter. The Government of Japan decided to extend the GGP for the construction of a new vocational training center, as the project is executed to contribute to the empowerment of economically and socially vulnerable women.

The Government of Japan hopes that this GGP will facilitate economic self-reliance and empowerment through providing vocational trainings such as weaving and sawing to economically and socially vulnerable women seeking refuge in the shelter, and will further develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Bhutan. [END]