NNA - Japan will extend a grant to First Step Together Association (FISTA), to support the construction of its school in Dedde (Koura) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program (GGP). On February 16 2023, Japanese Ambassador MAGOSHI Masayuki signed a grant contract with Mrs. Sana Hamze, President of FISTA.

FISTA’s school provides special education, vocational training, and social skills training to vulnerable Lebanese and non-Lebanese students with disabilities. Since the number of students had increased over the years with high demands for its specialized programme, FISTA had begun constructing new school buildings in Dedde-Koura; however, due to the unprecedented economic crisis that Lebanon has been facing, FISTA was unable to complete the construction of the entire school. Through the assistance from Japan, FISTA will increase its educational capacity and allow to more than 400 students to learn in comfortable learning environment.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador MAGOSHI hoped this project will help mitigate the repercussions of the socio-economic crisis on the education of children with special needs, and affirmed Japan’s keenness to maintain its assistance for Lebanon’s most vital sectors. For its part, FISTA thanked Japan for the generous grant and stressed the importance of this project in expanding its educational and social services to support a larger number of students with special needs.

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