AKP Phnom Penh, May 21, 2025 —

The Government of Japan will provide a total of US$1,182,658 to develop quality physical education teacher, and support children and youth in Cambodia, under the framework, the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects.

The Grant Contracts were signed here on May 20 between Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. UENO Atsushi, and the representatives of two recipient organisations -- the non-profit organisation HEARTS OF GOLD (HoG) and Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK).

According to a press release of the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, of the total amount, US$618,086 will be used to carry out the ‘Project on Developing 4-year Quality Physical Education Teacher Education University through Utilising ICT (Year 3)’.

In this project, HoG will implement activities to improve the management system of the university, such as library, international centre, internal quality assurance, teacher development, student management, alumni support and security management in the National Institute of Physical Education and Sport (NIPES) by utilising ICT. This project aims to establish sustainable management structure in order to train teachers of physical education fitted with “Minimum Standards for Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions (MSAHEI)” in Cambodia.

The rest of the financial support, US$564,572, will be given to KnK to implement the ‘Children and Youth Support by Expanding Access to Lifelong Learning Centre (LLLC) in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia (Year 3)’.

In this project, KnK will continue to support youth, especially those who suffer from unstable jobs, lack of living skills, and dropping out of schools. For the first and second year of this project, three new LLLCs were constructed. For the third year, two new LLLCs will be constructed and equipped with learning materials. By providing equivalency education class and enhanced vocational training as well as close support to children and youth, they can acquire skills which helps them to create a foundation for a better life in their future.

The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects started in Cambodia in 2002 to support activities by Japanese NGOs to help Cambodia's reconstruction and development efforts at the grassroots level. Since 2002, the Government of Japan has provided nearly US$60 million for over 160 projects, mainly in the field of primary education, health, agriculture and mine clearance in Cambodia.

By C. Nika