JFY2021 GGP “The Project for Reconstructing Cafeteria for Meyuns Elementary School ”
2026/6/2
The 2-Year Follow-Up
On May 21, 2026, the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) Coordinator of the Embassy of Japan visited Meyuns Elementary School (MES) and met with Ms. Sarah Sugiyama, Principal of MES. The visit was conducted as part of the two-year follow-up for “The Project for Reconstructing the Cafeteria for Meyuns Elementary School.”
The cafeteria reconstructed under this project serves daily school meals for all 143 students at MES, while also functioning as a community space where students can relax and connect with one another. In addition to school activities such as evacuation drills and PTA meetings, the cafeteria is used for community gatherings and sports events, making it a vital hub that brings the school and local community together.
Ms. Sugiyama stated, “With the improvement of the cafeteria, students are now able to enjoy their meals in a clean and safe environment. The cafeteria is not only a place for them to eat, but also an important space where they can interact with friends and spend time together in comfort and security. We hope to continue making good use of this cafeteria to support the healthy growth of our students, and we sincerely express our gratitude for Japan’s grant assistance.”
The Embassy of Japan hopes that the cafeteria will continue to support the healthy school life of students while further promoting interaction within the local community.
The Handover Ceremony
A common practice in Palau, school food programs are well-known for their benefits. Many elementary school students in Palau eat not only lunch but also breakfast at school. This was also the case at Meyuns Elementary School, but its operation posed a difficulty since the meals were prepared at the nearby Palau High School and then delivered to the Meyuns Elementary School after its own cafeteria was severely damaged by Typhoon Surigae in April 2021.
The cafeteria also served other purposes such as a venue for seasonal events, including the Christmas program, the graduation ceremony, and PTA meetings, as the only room large enough to accommodate many students and teachers.
Through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), Meyuns Elementary School now has a new cafeteria for freshly cooked and served breakfast and lunch.
“I am very pleased to be able to handover the cafeteria today. School meals do not only keep students’ bellies full, but also serve as a real fuel for learning opportunities. Students can also learn how to make healthy food choices through the school meal program, thereby supporting the long-term health and well-being of children,” said Ambassador Orikasa in his remarks. “I hope that the students, teachers, and parents will have many joyful events in this cafeteria in the years to come,” Ambassador Orikasa continued.
The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999 to meet development needs in grassroots activities in Palau. Since then, the Embassy of Japan in Palau has signed 102 grant contracts so far with schools, hospitals, state governments and NGOs.
The Signing Ceremony
On March 4, 2022, Ambassador of Japan KARASAWA Akira and Principal Ulai T. Ikesiil of Meyuns Elementary School signed a grant contract for “The Project for Reconstructing Cafeteria for Meyuns Elementary School” valued $487,000. The ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan and witnessed by Minister Dale Jenkins and representatives of the Ministry of Education management team.
Serving meals to students is one of the important roles for schools to make sure students have nutritious and healthy foods for their growth. MOE started a new program serving breakfast in addition to lunch in public schools since last October, so that no students feel hungry when they arrive at school. This meal program is helpful not only for students but also their parents to improve students’ attendance and performance.
To serve two meals a day in schools, a good cafeteria is essential. However, it is not possible for Meyuns Elementary School (MES) to prepare meals for students on campus because the cafeteria was deteriorated and seriously damaged by Typhoon Surigae last April. Meals for MES students are prepared at Palau High School and then delivered to MES every day.
In addition, the cafeteria of MES plays an essential role in school operation on a daily basis. The only and largest building on campus that can accommodate many people, the cafeteria has also been used for class activities such as physical education when it rains, seasonal events including Christmas program, the graduation ceremony and PTA meetings.
For these reasons, the reconstruction of the cafeteria is an urgent issue for the school, students, teachers and parents to resume normal school operation and to provide a safe and appropriate learning environment. Therefore, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant the reconstruction of the cafeteria building for MES through their GGP. The total amount of the grant $487,000 is the second biggest in all 90 GGP projects in Palau.
In the ceremony, Ambassador Karasawa expressed his hope that this project will contribute to further development of Meyuns Elementary School and well-being of its students. Principal Ikesiil expressed her gratitude to the Government of Japan, also stated the parents and community were very happy about this good news. Minister Jenkins conveyed his appreciation to the Government of Japan’s quick action for this project, also to Japan‘s continuous support in Education.
The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999 to meet development needs in grassroots activities in Palau. The Embassy of Japan has signed 90 grant contracts with schools, hospitals, state governments and NGOs in Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan website at https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/about_ggp.html.