24 March 2009

Japan Supports NGO “NOWZUWAN” for the disabled in Chittagong

     On 24 March 2009, Mr. Yonezo Fukuda, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan signed a grant contract amounting to US$ 85,751 (approximately Taka 59 Lakh) with Mr. Mohammad Imam Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Executive of NOWZUWAN for its project “Construction of Disability Resource Center of NOWZUWAN” under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP). 

     Since its establishment in 1977, NOWZUWAN has been working in Potia, Chittagong to improve social and economic status of the vulnerable groups including the disabled.  NOWZUWAN is the only organization dealing with the disability issues in the area, while about 4,000 people are estimated to have some disabilities.  Therefore, it has been hoped by the community that NOWZUWAN would upgrade its services by operating its own center, which can accept more numbers of disabled people. 

     Using the grant from Japan, NOWZUWAN will build a disability resource center with necessary equipments.  At the center, the people with disabilities and their families will be able to receive various kinds of services such as physiotherapy, rehabilitation, special education, vocational trainings, and micro-finance.  Under the project, it is expected that 2,250 people from 450 households in the area will directly benefit per year and that they are going to be independent.  The Japanese government hopes that the disabled and their families will be empowered and have more opportunities in participate in social and economic activities through the project. 

Mr. Yonezo Fukuda, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan exchanges the Grant Contract with Mohammad Imam Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Executive of NOWZUWAN, for the grant of US$ 85,751 (approximately Taka 59 lakh) for the Project “Construction of Disability Resource Center of NOWZUWAN”.