Caption:PS for Public Service Mr Parmesh Chand, JICA Resident Representative Mr Hiroyuki Swada (back far right) with JICA volunteers.Photo:SUPPLIED.
The Public Service Commission permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand today received Japanese volunteers who will work in Fiji under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Volunteer Scheme.
The courtesy call to the Permanent Secretary is part of the orientation for the nine volunteers before they take up assignment in various parts of the country.
With 34 volunteers already based in various towns and cities across the country, these nine volunteers will be engaged in various areas ranging from community development to environmental education.
JICA Resident Representative, Mr Hiroyuki Sawada, who spoke on behalf of the JICA volunteers said that the volunteers are looking forward to contributing to the development of Fiji and that his hopes are that the Fijian Government fully utilises the knowledge of the various volunteers to develop the Fijian skillset.
In welcoming the volunteers, Mr Chand, expressed his appreciation for the longstanding relationship between PSC and JICA in the field of volunteer assignment with PSC being the focal point for the volunteers’ assignments with various Government agencies and Departments. The volunteer program began in 1983 and since its inception, has sent over 630 volunteers to Fiji to assist the Fiji Public Service.
“We are pleased that the senior and junior volunteers, who are so generously contributing their time and knowledge, are covering a good range of areas that are of great interest to our nation.”
Senior volunteer, Mr Takashi Tonomura, who offers over 40 years of experience in Civil Engineering in Japan, will be working with the Nausori Town Council. “I am looking forward to my assignment and looking at ways in which I can assist Nausori and Fiji.”
DEPTFO