DILI, 27 august 2024 (TATOLI) – A non-government organization that is dedicated to increasing the quality of life in Timor-Leste, namely Timor Aid, organizes the three-day Weaver Fair at the Galeria Memoria Viva of the Noble Peace Laureate, Farol, Dili Timor-Leste, to welcome the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Popular Consultation Day on August 30, 1999.
“Together with TAIS, We Strengthen Our Identity’’ was selected as a theme of the Weaver Fair on behalf of the Timorese’s important and historic days that is celebrated annually in the national calendar.
“We invite all the groups of Weaver from the municipalities to organize the Weaver Fair from 27 to 29 August, during three days, aiming to promote our TAIS to the international world. Moreover, this Weaver Fair is organized to welcome the 25th Anniversary of Popular Consultation Day,” the Executive Director, Ceu Lopes, told TATOLI at the Galeria Memoria Viva of the Noble Peace Laureate Farol, Dili, today.
Lopes emphasized that the fair was conducted at the Galeria Memoria Viva of the Noble Peace Laureate Farol due to the fact that the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, was able to facilitate the organization to inform the embassies and diplomats, including foreigners in Timor-Leste, to purchase the TAIS and, in addition, to promote it to the world.
“With this weaver fair, the weavers and groups of weavers have the opportunity to sell their TAIS to promote our identity internationally, and with the TAIS, they will diversify their family ‘s economy and ensure the growth of the economy in Timor-Leste,” she concluded.
Since 2019, Timor Aid has been benefiting from a fund with an amount of approximately $500,000 from the United Nations Women (UN Women) in Timor-Leste to empower the groups of weavers to increase the quality of the originality of TAIS as the cultural identity to continue promoting Timor-Leste ‘s TAIS in the world.
Timor Aid is founded in 1998, Timor Aid has worked with communities to provide relief, reconstruction, and development as Timor-Leste journeys towards peace and prosperity.
Timor-Leste action areas include:
- Preserving and promoting culture and language
- Increasing access to education and training opportunities
- Improving public health.
These actions are carried out through the Tetun Language Program, the Agricultural Program, and the Cultural Program. Timor Aid has worked in all 13 districts of Timor-Leste; however, the majority of our projects are focused in the western districts of Oecusse, Covalima, Bobonaro, and Manufahi. Timor Aid has offices in Dili, Suai, and Oecusse and works collaboratively with a range of donors and government partners to build better lives across Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
