DILI, 09 november 2022 (TATOLI) – Religious Tourism Association of Timor-Leste (ART-TL) will organize a singing competition for children between 8 and 15 years of age to promote human fraternity and peace among religious believers in the country.
ATR-TL’s President, Angelo Salsinha said that the purpose of the singing competition is to strengthen faith, unity, and the values of human fraternity among religious populations in Timor-Leste. Meanwhile, the competition will also help to promote children’s talents and improve their singing ability.
“This festival is part of the continuation of the previous festival, focusing on promoting human fraternity. Today, we continue to organize the children’s group singing competition to promote the singing ability of our talented children,” Salsinha said at the ART-TL’s meeting room in Vila Verde, Dili.
He reiterated that the singing competition will contribute to building peace among religious believers in Timor-Leste’s society.
The head of the organizing committee for the singing competition, Filomeno da Cruz, said the festival was part of the commemorations of the 31st anniversary of the Santa Cruz Massacre and National Youth Day: “It helps strengthen the spirit of nationalism among the new generation.”
Registration for the singing competition will take place from 8 to 18 november at the ART-TL meeting room, in Vila Verde, Dili. The pre-audition of the singing competition is scheduled for november 24, while the grand finale will take place on november 30.
Contestants are required to present their birth certificates for registration. Each singing contest group must have at least 10 or not more than 20 members. Competitors are required to sing two songs during the given time of 15 minutes and are allowed to use their own musical instruments and choreography if necessary. The winners of the competition will be announced after the grand final.
The winner of the competition would receive US$600, while the runner-up would receive US$500, and the third-place winner would receive US$400. In addition, the fourth-place winner would get US$300, the fifth-place would receive US$200 and the sixth-place winner would get US$100.
The budget for the singing competition was supported by the Civil Society Support and Social Audit Services of the Office of the Prime Minister, totaling US$7,900.
Children from five different religions in Timor-Leste – Catholic, Islamic, Protestant, Hindu, and Buddhist, are encouraged to participate in the competition.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges
