General Assembly of JICA Alumni Association of Rwanda (JAAR)
8th June 2013
(Left: Ambassador Ogawa, in his opening remarks (middle), Mr. Kobayashi, Representative of JICA Rwanda Office (right), Right: General Assembly)
(General Assembly)
On 8th June, a special session of the General Assembly of JAAR (JICA Alumni Association of Rwanda) was held at the Umubano Hotel in Kigali. JAAR was founded in 2004 by some of the ex-participants in JICA trainings. JAAR has been striving to enhance socio-cultural ties between Japan and Rwanda as a professional network using their experience obtained in the trainings. There are about 200 active members of JAAR for now. JAAR is also contributing to various community activities including planting trees, repairing a bridge and so forth.
Ambassador Ogawa attended the Assembly and made a speech with remarks appreciating JAAR members’ contribution to the development of the cordial relationship between Japan and Rwanda, and telling them that he was expecting further contribution in the future. In the Assembly, some important topics were discussed including the coming activity and structural reform of JAAR since it obtained the status of NGO in Rwanda.