Japan’s GGP Grant to Palau SDA Elementary School
2026/4/28
Follow-up (more than five years after project completion)
On April 23, 2026, the Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Coordinator of the Embassy of Japan visited SDA elementary school and met with Ms. Marcie Olkeriil, Vice Principal of SDA elementary school, and Mr. Cyril Leonardia, a science teacher. The visit was conducted as part of follow-up to “The Project for Upgrading Science Laboratory for Palau SDA Elementary School.”
Even seven years after its completion, the provided science laboratory and experimental equipment is actively used in daily classes, providing a safer environment for students to carry out experiments
Mr. Cyril expressed his appreciation, stating that “students have had increased opportunities to engage with science through experiments, which has enhanced their interest in the subject and contributed to a deeper understanding through their learning activities.”
The Embassy of Japan hopes that the improved science education environment created through this project will continue to benefit students and support their academic growth for years to come.
Japan’s GGP was launched in Palau in 1999 to address grassroots development needs, including education, healthcare, and community welfare. This project marks the 71st of the 105 GGP projects implemented in Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan’s GGP website at:
https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/about_ggp.html.
Even seven years after its completion, the provided science laboratory and experimental equipment is actively used in daily classes, providing a safer environment for students to carry out experiments
Mr. Cyril expressed his appreciation, stating that “students have had increased opportunities to engage with science through experiments, which has enhanced their interest in the subject and contributed to a deeper understanding through their learning activities.”
The Embassy of Japan hopes that the improved science education environment created through this project will continue to benefit students and support their academic growth for years to come.
Japan’s GGP was launched in Palau in 1999 to address grassroots development needs, including education, healthcare, and community welfare. This project marks the 71st of the 105 GGP projects implemented in Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan’s GGP website at:
https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/about_ggp.html.
Japan Hands Over New Science Lab and Equipment to SDA Elementary School
On November 25, 2019, Ambassador Akira Karasawa from the Embassy of Japan formally handed over the renovated science laboratory and brand new science equipment to SDA Elementary School. The handover ceremony for “The Project for Upgrading Science Laboratory for Palau SDA Elementary School” was held at SDA Elementary School and attended by Chairman of Palau Adventist Schools Surangel Whipps, Jr. and other related personnel from the School.
Through this project, valued US$37,027 in total, the existing classroom was entirely renovated to a science lab and 30 kinds of new laboratory equipment were procured for the school. This GGP project will enable SDA Elementary School to provide the students with a safe learning environment as well as hands-on experience in order to expand their knowledge and interest in science.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Karasawa congratulated the SDA Elementary School on the completion of the GGP Project and expressed his hope that the students will enjoy learning science with the new science lab and equipment and that it will lead to further development of students. Additionally, he requested the students and the school to maintain them well so that they could be used for a long period of time. Mr. Whipps and Principal Sanchez conveyed their appreciation to the Embassy for the grant and mentioned that the school had needed the science lab and equipment to expand students’ interest in science. Furthermore, they hoped that their students would learn a lot from lab experiments like Thomas Edison did and it would lead them to academic success.
Since Japan launched the GGP in 1999, the Embassy of Japan has signed 78 GGP projects (as of November 2019) to assist development at the grassroots level in Palau. The GGP’s focus areas include education, health care and environment, and its eligible recipients are nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, as well as local state governments. For further information about the GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan website at https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/En/index.html.
Japan’s GGP Grant to SDA Elementary School
SDA has been attempting to encourage their students to know the importance of science by bringing in more hands-on experiments to their classes. However, the school currently does not own any science laboratory as well as equipment to operate necessary science experiments.
Accordingly, once the laboratory equipment become available and the classroom is renovated as the science laboratory, SDA could increase the capacity of achieving various science experiments for its students to learn and experiment in a safe and satisfied environment.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Yamada emphasized the importance of maintenance, so that the granted equipment and science laboratory could be used for a long period of time. Moreover, he expressed his hope that the implementation of this project would lead to further development of science education in Palau.
The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999, for the purpose of responding to various development needs engaged in grassroots activities in Palau. As of March 13, 2018, the Embassy has signed 70 grant contracts with schools and hospitals as well as state governments and non-profit organizations. Education, health care and environment are the primary fields prioritized by Japan for GGP in order to contribute to sustainable development of Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455.
