Ms. Kaoru Sugano, with AUICK President Dr. Hirofumi Ando (right) and former Executive Director, Mr. Yoshikane Fujimoto (left)

As an attendee to the 2006 AUICK UNFPA Seminar on Population, Development and Urban Environment in Asia, Kobe citizen Ms. Kaoru Sugano was impressed to donate financial assistance through the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Danang People’s Committee, toward the construction of two kindergarten/grade schools in Danang (see AUICK Newsletter No. 49, p. 36). The project promotes universal primary education in the city, as well as to assist working women to leave their children in a safe environment. Following completion, she also contributed to the construction of two more schools in the City of Vinh, the provincial capital of Nghe An, one of the poorest provinces of Vietnam, and birthplace of Ho Chi Minh. In May 2009, Ms. Sugano was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Danang People’s Committee.