International cooperation: the Government of Japan helps the village of Pakul

KYIV, UKRAINE – On March 7, 2006 a signing ceremony on the grant contract between the Government of Japan and the community organization “Dobrobut” of the village of Pakul (Chernihiv rayon, Chernihiv oblast) was held at the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine.

The grant contract was signed by the Ambassador of Japan in Ukraine Mr. Mutsuo Mabuchi and the head of the community organization “Dobrobut” of the village of Pakul Mr. Oleg Datsyuk in presence of the representatives of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine and UNDP / CRDP Knowledge Management Specialist Dr. Mykola Movchan. The community organization “Dobrobut” was established with the support of the UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme in order to improve the quality of life in the village.

The granted project is aimed at improving the sanitary environment of the school at the village of Pakul. The Government of Japan is going to provide a fund, equivalent to 130 096.2 Grivnas(around 26 000 $), to reconstruct the toilet and shower facilities at the school of Pakul.

Upon the request from the village community organization for the financial support from Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine investigated the school in November 2004 and May 2005, and found that the current toilet facility has hygienic problems. The pupils have no choice, but have to use the facility without heating in winter, as the toilet facility is located outside of the school’s building complex. The Embassy of Japan also confirmed that there is an uncompleted flush toilet facility inside the school building, where the construction has not been completed due to the lack of funds. The sewerage facility has been also constructed before, but not yet used either. Therefore, those half-made facilities can be used for reconstructing the toilet facility. Considering these conditions, in February 2006, the Government of Japan decided to support the school’s plan to improve its sanitary environment. The grant is provided under the framework of the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects of Japan.

The project that is to be funded by Japan includes the construction of the flush toilets, as well as the shower facility that is to be used by the pupils and neighbouring community members who use the school’s gymnasium located next to the planned toilet and shower facilities. The gymnasium has a heating facility that was also donated by Japan in 2004 through the UN Human Security Fund and the UNDP Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme.

The Pakul Village is located in the region where the radio-nuclides released from the Chornobyl catastrophe in 1986 have been deposited. However, the village school still accommodates 164 pupils and 35 teachers. So, in total, 500 people will be benefited from the new toilet and shower facilities.

For detailed information please, contact:
Dr. Mykola Movchan, Knowledge Management Specialist
Tel: /044/ 253 07 08; 253 50 68; 253 51 77
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it