By Our Reporter Japan government is extending financial assistance of 495,197 US dollars to Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme. Shanti Volunteer Association, an international NGO based in Japan, will work with a Nepalese partner NGO, Community and Rural Development Society Nepal (CARDSN), to implement the Project for strengthening resilience of earthquake affected schools in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts, Nepal. A grant contract relating to this project was signed and exchanged on 27 February between Japanese ambassador Masashi Ogawa and Ms. Eri Yamamoto, Chief of Programme Support Division, Shanti Volunteer Association, at the Embassy of Japan in Nepal. The goal of the project is to reconstruct school buildings in earthquake affected areas, develop school level disaster preparedness plans, and increase awareness and provide education in disaster preparedness in Nuwakot District. This goal will be achieved through four main activities. Three schools which were affected by the devastating earthquake in 2015 will be reconstructed to be earthquake-resilient. Earthquake-resilient building designs, approved by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), will be used to create a safe learning environment. Introducing story-telling and recreational activities as methods of psycho-social care for children and developing DRR education materials for schools will be carried out. A workshop will also be implemented for the teachers and School Management Committee (SMC) members in collaboration the relevant District Education Office (DEO). DRR training for teachers will be carried out and a DRR expert will check the contents of the DP plan prepared by the teachers who participate in the training. In schools, evacuation drills will be carried out to practice the DP plan guidelines. In collaboration with the SMCs and DEO, workshops for sharing the school DP plans with the surrounding communities will be carried out. Awareness raising among the communities will be implemented through establishing a town-watch, which will help pinpoint disaster risks in each community. The Japan Embassy expects that the success of this project will develop communities’ capacity for disaster preparedness and bring a safer environment for school children.  It has also expected the project will also enhance the cordial friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.