DILI, 01 may 2022 (TATOLI) – Hundreds of children showed up at the Presidential Palace to celebrate International Children’s Day, where the President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta pledged to support Child Street Vendors to grow their business.
“Today, hundreds of children showed up here at the Palace of the President and it seems like they are happy with celebrating their special day. However, many Timorese children help their parents to sell stuff on the streets. I will spare some of my time to talk to these children to ask them what specific support they would need to grow their own small business,” President Horta told reporters during the celebration of the International Children’s Day, at the Palace of the President, on wednesday evening.
He said providing appropriate support would help child street vendors to grow their businesses: “We will support these children to become real businessmen or businesswomen in the future.”
“I want to see kid entrepreneurs in the country. I have seen 9 and 11-year-old millionaire entrepreneurs in the US. That’s why we need to provide specific support for these children to develop their own business at an early age,” Hora said.
Horta urged the government and the world to pay attention to the horrifying problems faced by children across the world: “Many parents in Pakistan and Indian force their kids to do the work in dangerous or unhealthy conditions that could result in a child being injured or made ill.”
“I have discussed with UNICEF and the Government of Timor-Leste to ensure there is no place for children to work in such dangerous and unhealthy conditions in this country. UNICEF showed me their well-elaborated plan to ensure protection for Timorese children, especially preventing the kids of poor families from hunger and malnutrition,” Horta stressed.
In 2020, the National Commission of Children Rights (NCCR) reported 300 cases of child street vendors. Most child street vendors in Timor-Leste are also studying, and 40% of these children are from Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA).
Horta said he would talk to the Embassies of Australia, China, South Korea, and others to improve the School Feeding Program (SFP) to enhance children’s early learning and development.
“My presidential team has also prepared our plan to offer free lunch for poor mothers and children here at the Presidential Place,” Horta added.
President Horta has also considered poor children in the municipalities in his plan: “In some municipalities, there is no football game for kids. That’s why I am thinking to run some of the children’s programs in the municipalities.”
International Children’s Day, which is not the same as Universal Children’s Day, is celebrated annually on june 1. Although widely celebrated, many countries do not recognize june 1 as Children’s Day.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
