Shillong (India). On 19 March 2024, at Mary Help of Christians Formation Center of the Bellefonte Community College of Lumshyiap, Shillong, of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province (INS), the new sanitary facilities were inaugurated as part of the “Project for the provision of a water supply and sanitation system”, funded by the Embassy of Japan in India to support basic initiatives for human security – Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).
The grant program was initiated by the Japanese government to assist local governments and non-profit organizations in response to various development needs, providing concrete elements such as facilities and equipment in India. The ceremony represented further progress in offering better facilities for students and staff. Kodero Jiro, Advisor to the Economic Section of the Embassy, was the special guest.
The new sanitary facilities, equipped with modern accessories, including ecological devices, drinking water filters, sinks, and spacious stalls, aim to ensure comfort, hygiene, and separate accessibility for boys and girls.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of the authorities, including Mr. Kodera Jiro; Ms. Kawato Akiko, Assistant to Economic Cooperation of the Embassy of Japan in India; Ms. Verma Yavanika, coordinator of the Grant Grassroot project. Also present were Sister Elizabeth George, Provincial of the INS Province; Sister Helen Puwein, President of the Bellefonte Community College; and officials of the Ministry of Health and Education of Lumshyiap, Shillong.
During the ceremony, Kodera Jiro stressed that the event is a sign of friendship between the peoples of India and Japan and that the link will continue in the future. For their part, the FMA, students, and staff expressed their gratitude to Japan for their contribution and improvement of the structures, reflecting the Institution’s constant commitment to educational excellence.
