GGP Signing Ceremony for ‘’The Project for the Construction of the Community Legal Service Centre for Gaborone and Surrounding Area”
2020/3/4
On Tuesday 3rd March 2020, the Government of Japan, through the Embassy of Japan in Botswana, has donated US$ 72,546 to the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) for the Construction of the Community Legal Service Centre for Gaborone and Surrounding Area. The Grant Contract was concluded and signed between the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Takeda Kozo and Mrs. Cindy Kelemi, Executive Director, BONELA.
BONELA aims to provide free services to vulnerable members of the community who have been marginalised, and have suffered from human rights violations. Some of the specific services that will be provided by BONELA after the construction of the centre include, the facilitation of access to justice, access to health and education, as well as other human rights to people of various vulnerabilities. The population targeted includes vulnerable children, victims and survivors of gender based violence, people with disabilities, the impoverished, remote area dwellers, migrant workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and people with HIV and AIDS, amongst others.
Currently, BONELA is providing services in a residential office which is not easily accessible and does not provide a conducive environment to those in need of assistance. It was in recognition of the sensitivity of some of the cases handled by BONELA, which the Embassy of Japan saw it fit to make a contribution to this project. The Embassy is aware that the Government of Botswana works tirelessly to improve the quality of life of vulnerable members of society.
Ambassador Takeda stated that the construction of the centre will enhance the valuable work performed by BONELA. He is very happy to contribute to initiatives which will uplift them. He sincerely hope that the positive work from this centre will not just be limited to Gaborone and it’s surrounding areas, but will spread out to the rest of Botswana. This project will stand, not only as a testament of the friendship and cooperation between Botswana and Japan, but will also contribute to the improvement of social welfare in Botswana as a whole.
The Government of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) is a grant scheme which supports projects addressing social problems and/or aiming at community development at the grass-roots level.