Signing Ceremony of Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP): “ The Project for Improvement in Accessibility of People with Disabilities and Elderly at the Intercontinental Slavery Museum”

On 6 March 2023, the signing ceremony for the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP) was held at the Intercontinental Slavery Museum (ISM). The grant contract was signed by Mr KAWAGUCHI Shuichiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Mr Jean Maxy Simonet, Chairperson of ISM Mauritius Ltd, in the presence of the Hon Avinash Teeluck, Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage and other staff.
 
The museum building was renovated from a military hospital, which is one of the oldest buildings in Mauritius and is highly significant in the history of slavery, as it was constructed by slaves in 1740. Since existing stairs in the three-storey museum building are narrow and steep, it is very difficult for the disabled and elderly to access currently.
 
The ISM will receive a grant of 48,505 euros, or approximately 2 million rupees and it will be used to procure one lift to improve the access of the people with the disabilities and elderly. Upon completion of the project, the ISM will be able to provide them with improved access and more visitors can have opportunities to explore, study, share and transmit histories of slavery in the Indian Ocean region.