Indonesia: Canada increases support for the rehabilitation of the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Aceh by CAD 2.9 million
The project, administered by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is part of the Government of Canada's more than CAD 425 million response to the December 26 tsunami. The project will be implemented by McGill University in close partnership with IAIN - Banda Aceh. Canadian funds will be used to support the re-establishment of school facilities and services destroyed or disrupted by the tsunami. Specifically, the project will support: the rehabilitation and development of the school's library; the development of teacher training resources; the development of IAIN programming to respond to community development and social welfare needs; and strengthening of the IAIN teaching and management capacity.
Not only is this project part of Canada's response to the tsunami, it also builds upon a fifty-year partnership between Canada's McGill Institute for Islamic Studies and UIN Jakarta and IAIN Yogyakarta. The CAD 2.9 increase in Canadian funding - the entirety of which will be targeted toward Aceh, brings the total value of Canadian support for the McGill- IAIN project to CAD 9.7 million.
IAIN -Banda Aceh was seriously damaged as a result of the December 26 tsunami that ravaged the region, particularly Indonesia. Many of the schools buildings and dormitories were heavily damaged or destroyed, teaching resources were lost, teachers and students killed, and schooling and the provision of services were completely disrupted.
"I am very pleased that Canada will support the rehabilitation of this important educational institution in Banda Aceh. The important role the IAIN plays in building Aceh's leaders of tomorrow is without question. This project will have an immediate impact on the lives of the students and the quality of education available to them at IAIN -Banda Aceh, and a long-term impact on the recovery of affected areas throughout Aceh. The students who will be able to complete their course of studies as a result of this initiative will go on to take up key roles within their communities as Aceh rebuilds and continues on its path of development," stated Ambassador Mank. "McGill University's existing knowledge of, and respect for, IAINs throughout Indonesia make them the implementing partner of choice for the continuation Canada's relationship with the State Islamic Institute as a whole, and in Banda Aceh, in particular."
Ambassador Mank, in Banda Aceh for two days, took the opportunity to meet with local government leaders and members of the Canadian community working in the region. Ambassador Mank also made site visits to several other projects which have received Canadian support, announcing an additional CAD 4 million in support for these initiatives. A significant portion of Canada's CAD 425 million commitment to countries affected by the tsunami will be directed to reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives in Aceh - the area most heavily affected by the tsunami.
For further information please contact:
Jennifer Hart (Political & Public
Affairs)
Canada Embassy
tel: (62-21) 2550-7823
fax: (62-21) 2550-7814