JAPANESE DONATION FOR TWO SCHOOLS IN W SUMATRA

Padang, W Sumatra, Jan 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Jusuf Anwar here Monday handed a financial donation of Rp1.5 billion from the Japanese people to the local government to finance the reconstruction of two quake-affected schools.

"We hope the donation will help West Sumatra's education move forward," Ambassador Anwar told a gathering, attended by Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar here.
The money would be used to rebuild Primary School 43 in Padang city and one in Padang Pariaman district that the earthquake destroyed in September 30, 2009.

The natural disaster had touched the hearts of Japanese people. They shared the fate of the victims by donating money through the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo, he said.

The educational sector should be given special attention because it would enable the nation to move and gain successes, Ambassador Anwar said.

Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar thanked the Japanese people, saying their donation could support the building of eight class rooms that would benefit teachers and students.

The donation had also assisted the local governments' efforts to rebuild infrastructures that the recent earthquake had destroyed or damaged, he said.

The 7.6-magnitude quake killed more than a thousand people and caused tens of thousands of houses to suffer major and minor damages.