Ngaraard State Governor Sharp Sakuma and Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) Project Coordinator Carlisa Ngedebuu in front of the tabletop gardens in Ngaraard.
By Elilai Rengiil
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is working with the Ngaraard State Government to improve diets and strengthen health monitoring through community cookouts, vegetable growing, and a yearlong screening program.
The project, supported by Japan’s grant aid for Japanese NGOs, aims to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and strengthen community-based follow-up. It began in March 2026 and runs through February 2027.
“With support from the state government staff, habit changes in the 21 participants will be observed and monitored until the end of the project,” Ngedebuu said.
“Unlike other health screening projects in Palau, this initiative follows the same participants throughout the year to track changes,” she added.
Vegetables from the PWJ-funded and state government supported greenhouse are used in community cooking and distributed to the screening participants. The vegetables harvested have also been distributed to over 25 homebound patients.
Ngaraard State Government employee Thomas Omisong, who maintains the greenhouse and tends its vegetables, said the project gives community members a healthy activity while teaching them to propagate seeds, transplant seedlings and grow vegetables. A sign in the greenhouse reads, “From Seeds to Plate”.
Two community cookouts have taken place in the past year and introduced healthier recipes while teaching residents how to propagate seeds and plant vegetables. The next cookout is planned for November 13, 3 p.m., at the Ngaraard State Office.
Ngaraard State Governor Sharp Sakuma said the project differs from earlier tabletop gardening initiatives in the state because it includes follow-up, monitoring, and cooking demonstrations.
“Constant follow up is so important,” Sakuma said. He said the greenhouse’s roadside location was chosen to raise community awareness of the project. Sakuma thanked PWJ for its “endless support.”
No residential tabletop gardens have been installed yet. The state supports providing them to the screening participants and selected homebound patients, with approximately 25 to 30 planned.
The state is also considering providing land for community groups, or cheldebechel, from Ngaraard’s five hamlets. Sakuma proposed that each group could grow two different vegetables, potentially providing 10 varieties for the community.
Ngaraard is one of three pilot states, alongside Ngchesar and Ngeremlengui participating in the project. The project builds on PWJ’s 2022–25 annual health screening initiative. Collected data will be shared with the state government and the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHHS) after the project ends.
The Embassy of Japan in Palau facilitated the site visit as part of its ODA press tour on October 21, 2026.