The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of 87,058 US Dollars; equivalent to approximately 8,576,954 Nepalese Rupees to Childreach Nepal, a local NGO in Lalitpur District. This financial assistance is extended under the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan's Fiscal Year 2013. Childreach Nepal will implement the Project for Construction of a Community Based Model Early Childhood Development Center in Kavrepalanchok District.

A Grant Contract relating to this project is scheduled to be signed and exchanged on 13 March at the Embassy of Japan in Nepal between His Excellency Mr. Masashi OGAWA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Dr. Tshering Lama, Country Director, Childreach Nepal.

According to a press release of Japanese Embassy, this grant assistance will be used to construct the  Early Childhood Development/ECD model center in Sankhupatichaur VDC, Kavepalanchok District which currently has no ECD facility for preschool children.  It will provide classes for Nursery, LKG and UKG for about 40 students in each class,  totaling 120 students. It will be open for all preschool aged children in this area.   

This model center will be about 256 square meters in size, with four classrooms, a staff room, a drawing room,  and toilets according to sex with hand-wash station in accordance with the National Minimum Standards for ECD and UNICEF Resource Pack.  This model center will provide not only quality education for ECD but also health services including immunization to young children and health information to their guardians.

This model center will provide access to ECD education to all preschool aged children and it will be expected to reduce the repeat rate and drop-out rate in primary schools. Moreover, it is expected that young children’s health will improve by the provision of health services and information through this model center.

The Embassy of Japan expects that this type of model center will become the  norm, which  can eventually be replicated all over Nepal.  In addition, the Embassy strongly expects it will improve education and the health environment for children in Nepal.