Dili, 6 march 2023 (TATOLI) –The United States (U.S.) and the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) handed over Information and Technology (IT) equipment to four Community Learning Centers (CLC), in Timor-Leste.
Country Representative of UNICEF, Bilal Durrani said the IT equipment composed of four laptops and 24 tablets, and projectors to the four community learning centers, the equipment aimed to enable these CLCs to expand the reach of these courses to more adolescents in more engaging and interesting ways.
“MoEYS and UNICEF are working on an effort to provide the learning equipment to support the youth in Community Learning Center. It helps students to enhance their knowledge to support economic development,’’ Country Representative of UNICEF, Bilal Durrani said in his remarks at the MoEYS conference room, this monday.
Durrani said, with funding support from the US Embassy and UNICEF will support the MoEYS’s pilot project, in four Community Learning Centers: 2 CLCs in Dili (Cristo Rei and Mora Vida Maskal), 1 in Baucau (Baucau Kreativu), and 1 in Manatuto (Futuru Rentau).
Last year, UNICEF signed a partnership agreement with the US Embassy in Timor-Leste to pilot these courses in 4 Community Learning Centres (CLC).
Mr. Durrani said UNICEF found that the participants had a preference to complete those courses which had direct practical application in their daily lives. The Courses including making reusable sanitary pads, hand washing, financial education, and making vertical gardens were more popular than other courses such as ocean acidification, for instance
Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S Embassy in Timor-Leste, Tom Delay said It is great appreciation for MoEYS in this cooperation of this handed over ceremony of IT equipment through the UNICEF in Timor-Leste.
“It is a vital opportunity to support young Timorese people within handed over IT equipment to the MoEYS, aimed to increase the skill of Timorese in Timor-Leste and prepared TL to join the ASEAN Members,’’ US Chargé d’Affaries Tom Daley said
He added that The equipment is focused on supporting the development of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. This support is also essential to ensure economic prosperity for the Timorese people who become beneficiaries.
Minister of Education, Armindo Maia said it is a great privilege to get support from UNICEF with the United States of America funds.
“I request to the beneficiaries in four Community Learning Centers to use the equipment with responsibility. Those items can help young people to more learning for science, technology, mathematics, and others,’’ He concluded
The fund provided by the U.S. Embassy is worth over 10.000 USD.
So far that over 60 adolescents aged between 13-17 years old have participated in the training program. the number including 27 female and 33 male students.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
