Japan has extended a grant of $87,350 or almost Tk74 lakh to the Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organization (Berdo).
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki signed "grant contracts" for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) at the Embassy of Japan with Berdo Executive Director Md Saidul Huq.
Japan has supported 198 NGO projects through its GGHSP since 1989 to enhance economic and social human security at the grass-roots levels.
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The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amounts approximately to $16 million.
Berdo has been awarded the grant for "The Project for Procurement of Braille Press and Training to Promote Education of Persons with Visual Impairments in Dhaka District."
The organisation has been working to promote the education of visually impaired persons using the brail method, mobilise and sensitise communities, and develop skilled manpower in the different trades.
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With the assistance of the GGHSP funding, Berdo will procure and install a braille press and provide technical guidance on operating the machine to contribute to the self-reliance and livelihood improvement of the visually impaired.
The students of Berdo Blind School and Berdo Library members as well as persons with visual impairments nationwide will be able to access braille books and textbooks through this project.
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