A $913,000 grant from the Government of Japan will fund new cyclone-resilient classrooms for Lomaivuna High School and Ratu Sauvoli Memorial School, following the signing of grant contracts in Suva yesterday.
Speaking at the ceremony at his official residence in Tamavua, Hiroshi Tajima, Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan, said the projects were part of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I am deeply honored to sign these grant contracts,” Ambassador Tajima said, describing the projects as “tangible symbols of our enduring friendship.”
He said the two initiatives would become the 425th and 426th GGP projects in Fiji, with Japan providing approximately FJ$403,000 for Lomaivuna High School and FJ$510,000 for Ratu Sauvoli Memorial School.
Each school will receive a fully furnished, three-classroom building constructed with reinforced concrete and designed to withstand Category 5 cyclones, ensuring safe and uninterrupted learning.
Ambassador Tajima said Lomaivuna High School had faced severe challenges after a fire in October 2024 destroyed a school building and toilet facilities, forcing students to learn in temporary tents under difficult conditions.
At Ratu Sauvoli Memorial School, a two-storey wooden building built in 1970 had deteriorated, with decayed floors and walls posing safety risks.
“These projects directly address those challenges,” he said. “Education is the bridge to opportunity for every child.”
“From classrooms to communities, we are building resilience together,” he said.
