Kindergarten no. 135 for visually impaired children, located in Chisinau’s Râşcani sector, has been renovated thanks to the Japanese Government’s Kusanone Program. Among other improvements, the kindergarten's roof, windows and doors have been replaced, and its festivities hall has been rehabilitated, at a cost exceeding $100,000.
“I am glad that these children with special educational needs will now attend a school with better conditions. This will also help us the teachers better ensure the recovery process,” said the principal Tatiana Reaboi.
Before the renovation, air temperature would sometimes drop to 13 degrees Celsius in some classrooms in the winter. Now a comfortable temperature of 19-24 degrees can be guaranteed. Children go to the gym in appropriate apparel now and they are happy about their new music classroom, said Tatiana Reaboi.
Masanobu Yoshii, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Moldova, said that two years ago he received a grant application letter from a group of parents that were members of the NGO "Rainbow". During a visit to the kindergarten, he was convinced that renovations were required. In March 2018, the project got funded. “Just like a rainbow, this grant has brought of color into Kindergarten 135, making children happier and parents less worried,” the ambassador noted.
The ambassador also said that investment in education is the promoter of the welfare of any nation. This is why Japan will continue to support the development of the education system in Moldova.
The acting head of the Education, Youth and Sports Division of the Chisinau Municipal Council, Rodica Gutu welcomed the parents' initiative to change something in the education institution. "We are aware that today we can exist thanks to the partnership we have with our parents and the community," the head of EYSD said.
The Kusanone Program provides non-reimbursable assistance to promote human security. Through it the Government of Japan aims to improve the quality of Moldova’ s citizens lives in fields such as education, health services or public welfare.
Through the program the Government of Japan has funded 58 projects until present.