2022.11.05
The installation of Yamaha Clean Water Supply System of Seka Kagwa Water Supply Project in Kenya was completed in May, which was selected as Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects of Ministry of foreign affair of Japan on August 17, 2021. On October 25th, 2022, the Japanese government handed over the facility to the local beneficiaries. This time, I attended the handover ceremony with my counterpart Daniel together, and we did other field surveys for future project formation too.
It was the first time in my life to attend such a ceremony to deepen friendship between countries, and it was a deeply emotional experience. The handover ceremony opened with a prayer to God and closed with a prayer to God. There were speeches from many related organizations, but it means a lot of cooperation is necessary to implement one project.
When it was Yamaha Motor’s turn, the General Manager of the Planning and Promotion Department of the Overseas Market Development Division gave a speech first, and after that I and Daniel had an opportunity to give each speech too.
In 2019, from the start of the baseline survey with our local counterpart Daniel to the handover of the project, I remembered many things, including difficulties, but I would like to say two things.
The first is, “When we act for the right purpose in God’s eyes, we meet the right people by God’s guidance.”
The second is “the need to strive for project sustainability”.
With one achievement, Daniel later said: “Serving humanitarian assistance equals serving God”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects is purely for humanitarian assistance.
My first words and Daniel’s words are the most important things I learned from this project formation, and I would like to always keep this in mind when forming projects in the future.
