Since the implementation of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) in 1998, the Japanese government has financed 78 projects in the Republic of Croatia totalling more than three million euros.

The GGHSP is moving away from the country in general and is now focusing on revitalisation of the society, not just pumping money into impoverished regions, but giving the people a way of gaining skills and working their way up.

Gracac to receive a new ambulance

The Government of Japan has donated, by way of its’ GGHSP programme, over 60,000 EUR to two projects in the Republic of Croatia.

The first project is for a new ambulance for Gracac Infirmary in Zadar County. The infirmary is responsible for providing medical assistance for around 5,000 people.

The area of Gracac covers more than 1,000 square kilometres and is currently served by just four emergency vehicles, far too few by far to service 5,000 people, and even less when you consider that the ambulances are used not just for  emergency assistance but patient transport as well.

The 47,302 EUR grant from the Japanese government was signed over by the interim Charge d’Affaires at the Japanese Embassy, Koichi Miyoshi, to the Director of Zadar County’s Health Centre, Renata Bek.

- The donation will be very useful as the conditions to reach the patients are very difficult since the area is mountainous and winter conditions are make it much worse – said Bek on receiving the grant.

Drnis women assisted with vocational training

The second donation of 15,559 EUR will be given to `Zena` (Woman), a project which has been providing assistance to unemployed women in the Drnis area. The grant will be for the purchase of seven sewing and two embroidery machines.

The area of Drnis was devastated in the Croatian Homeland Defence War of the 1990’s and as a result it has made it very difficult for the area to develop.

Zena focuses on the education of women in developing their textile and handiwork skills with the emphasis of them finding employment within the textile industry.

President of the Zena association of Drnis, Milena Percin accepted the grant given again by Koichi Miyoshi, saying:

- Iin the Drnis area, more than 600 women are unemployed, this project will enable continuous education for them.