Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga
在トンガ日本国大使館

Japan handed over a grassroots project to upgrade the Mata'aho Kindergarten on Thursday, June 27th 2013. The handover ceremony of the project was held at 10:00am at the school's compound in Kolomotu'a Tongatapu. His Excellency, Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga attended the handover ceremony.

His Excellency Dr. Hamuro congratulated the completion of the project and appraised the efforts made by partners of the project. In his speech he emphasized importance of Early Childhood Education, and that positive learning experiences in both cognitive learning and social learning in kindergartens provide and excellent foundation to enrich learning at primary schools. "I am excited to handover the facilities because kindergarten children can benefit from a better learning environment in a better location," he said.

Mr. Saimone Tonga, Chairman of the Parents and Teachers Association of Mata'aho Kindergarten acknowledged the generous assistance of the people and Government of Japan.

The project is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Government of Japan. Mata'aho Kindergarten's previous classroom was built in the 1970's but was badly damaged by a cyclone in 2010. Mata'aho Kindergarten sought for Japan's assistance in 2011 prioritizing provision of safer and healthier educational environment for their pupils. The project financed construction of a new classroom building and a toilet building where approximately 50 pupils this year are to benefit.