Dili, 3 february, 2023 – President Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos Horta, and Care International Timor Leste (CITL) strengthen its commitment to improving early childhood education in Timor-Leste.
The Country Director of CARE, Peter Goodfellow said Timorese Students who use the Lafaek Prima magazines to study have achieved improved literacy scores, therefore Care is committed to working closely with the government to achieve common priorities.
“The CARE team is proud to commit today to redouble our efforts to contribute to the realization of the common priorities, and we look forward to expanding our work together to improve the education, health, and economic status of women and girls in some of the most remote areas of the country,” Goodfellow said in a statement seen by Tatoli.
CITL and the Office of the President and CARE have established a partnership that aims to significantly improve early childhood education, children’s nutrition, and women’s economic status in remote, rural areas of the country. It is reflecting the direct alignment of shared development priorities.
Chief of Staff for the President’s Office, Mr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas stated CARE’s intervention in the country is crucial, an example is what they have achieved with the Lafaek project.
“This partnership agreement has been developed to respond to the President’s call for significant change in these areas, and builds on CARE’s well-founded experience and capability in delivering quality education, health, and gender equality programs at scale,’’ He said.
In Timor-Leste, CARE is renowned for its education sector support, particularly in improving literacy, numeracy, and nutrition for young children, through programs such as the Lafaek Learning Media project supported by the New Zealand aid program, and the HATUTAN Education and Nutrition program supported by the United States Department of Agriculture.
While, Women’s economic empowerment is central to CARE’s programming, achieved by addressing power imbalances in households and communities, strengthening access to technical skills training, and developing improved links to markets.
“The partnership will run for two years and help catalyze the scaling up of existing and future development initiatives in some of the most remote communities across the country. It includes specific, practical, and complementary activities, such as the promotion of reading at home, the promotion of nutritious cooking, and supporting women’s leadership and decision-making at the village level.,”
CARE is an international development and humanitarian organization that has been working in Timor-Leste since 1994. With programs that extend across all parts of the country, CARE works with partners to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.
So far, CARE works with remote, rural communities and civil society partners to combat gender inequality, as this is one of the most effective ways to create sustainable development outcomes.
Ensuring the well-being and a voice for women and girls in rural, disadvantaged areas is at the heart of CARE’s work. This is achieved in four priority areas of Education, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Health, and promoting Women’s Voice in society through the development and humanitarian programs.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
