The Government of Japan will provide a sum of US$ 75,629 (approximately Rs. 7.9 million) towards the Vocational Training Project for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Returnees in Kilinochchi.The project is to be implemented by Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ).

BAJ, a Japanese NGO, which has been engaged in relief and rehabilitation activities in Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu since the beginning of 2003, is launching a new project in Kilinochchi to provide vocational training to the IDPs and returnees to Kilinochchi.

The primary objective of this project is to provide the socially and economically vulnerable people such as youths and women affected by the conflict with the opportunities for acquiring new technical skills by upgrading BAJ Kilinochchi Vocational Training Centre (VTC) which was constructed by BAJ in 2003. More than 120 vulnerable people are expected to complete the training courses by the end of the project. Those who have completed the training will be firmly equipped not only with valuable technical skills to be utilized for getting new jobs, self-employment and increasing income but also with confidence and bright hope for the future.

The overall goal is to assist these youths and women in increasing their income level and uplifting their livelihood towards self-reliance by utilizing the skills obtained through the training sessions.

The grant will be utilized to construct a cooking facility for female trainees staying at the dormitory in the Vocational Training Centre as well as the fence for VTC compound for enhancing trainee $B!G (Bs safety. Further, it is going to be provided a wide variety of essential training equipment such as air compressors, welding machines, tractors, rice thrashing machine and training materials such as iron sheets, etc. Then the grant will also be utilized for management and administration of training courses and instructors for tractor machine repair course.

BAJ so far offered on-the-job training courses in carpentry, plastering, tailoring, furniture-making and tractor repair courses in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In addition, the Government of Japan has extended a sum of US$ 80,000 to launch its project to rehabilitate existing school building and construct community centers in Vavuniya District. The people and the Government of Japan hope that these projects will help to upgrade the know-how skills and improve the living standards of the people in the region.

The signing of the Grant Contract takes place at the Vocational Training Centre, Kilinochchi on the 13th August 2004. H.E. Mr. Akio Suda, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Yasufumi Tsukamura, Country Representative, Bridge Asia Japan sign the Grant Contract while Mr. M.S. Jayasinghe, Secretary of the 3R Ministry and Mr. T. Rasanayagum, Government Agent of Kilinochchi were also present at the ceremony.