Japan hands over renovated building to Senior Citizens Center
2026/4/27
Follow-up (more than five years after project completion)
On April 21th, 2026, the Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Coordinator of the Embassy of Japan visited Senior Citizens Center and met with Ms. Hera Subediang, Acting Director of the Bureau of Human Services, and Mr. Yanagine Tatsuhiro, a JICA volunteer. The visit was conducted as a part of follow-up to “The Project for Renovating Senior Citizens Center.”
The center continues to serve as a gathering place for elderly members of the local community, after six years from its completion.
It is also used for health promotion activities, including Rajio-Taiso Exercise conducted as part of a day service exercise program led by Mr. Yanagine.
Additionally many of the elderly users experienced the period of Japanese administration and the wartime era, and occasionally share their memories from that time with young visitors, making the center a meaningful place for intergenerational exchange.
The Embassy of Japan hopes that the center will continue to support the health and well-being of elderly residents and remain an important part of the community.
Japan’s GGP was launched in Palau in 1999 to address grassroots development needs, including education, healthcare, and community welfare. These projects form part of the 105 GGP projects implemented in Palau to date. 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.
The center continues to serve as a gathering place for elderly members of the local community, after six years from its completion.
It is also used for health promotion activities, including Rajio-Taiso Exercise conducted as part of a day service exercise program led by Mr. Yanagine.
Additionally many of the elderly users experienced the period of Japanese administration and the wartime era, and occasionally share their memories from that time with young visitors, making the center a meaningful place for intergenerational exchange.
The Embassy of Japan hopes that the center will continue to support the health and well-being of elderly residents and remain an important part of the community.
Japan’s GGP was launched in Palau in 1999 to address grassroots development needs, including education, healthcare, and community welfare. These projects form part of the 105 GGP projects implemented in Palau to date. 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.
On Monday, December 28, 2020, His Excellency, KARASAWA Akira, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Palau, formally handed over a renovated building to Senior Citizens Center. The ribbon cutting ceremony for “The Project for Renovating Senior Citizens Center” was held at Senior Citizens Center in Koror, and was attended by President Remengesau, Paramount Chief Ibedul, Paramount Chief Reklai, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Temengil and other distinguished guests.
The Senior Citizens Center building was renovated in the total cost of $89,639, through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). Through the implementation of this project, the multipurpose room and the bathrooms were fully renovated.
Since Senior Citizens Center plays a very important role in the community and the number of users is expected to increase in the future because family style has been changed in the society nowadays. However, the building of the center was deteriorated and unsafe and secure for the elderly people who use the center. The renovated building will allow the center to provide the safe and secured environment. At the same time, the center will be able to accommodate more people and improve their quality of life in the community.
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 December 28, 2020, the Embassy has signed 83 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 or visit the Embassy of Japan’s GGP website at https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/about_ggp.html .