DILI, 19 november 2024 (TATOLI)— Global Inner Peace (GIP), a civil society organization from South Korea, opened a Jeju branch project, the Peace Library for children, by providing books and supporting materials to the Children’s Library at Xanana Reading Room.
The library was inaugurated with an official signing between Xanana Reading Room Manager, Maria Amaral Guterres, and GIP Representative Director in Timor-Leste, Eun Kyoung Shin, witnessed by South Korean Embassy Representative, Sungheui Park.
Xanana Reading Room Manager Maria Amaral Guterres said the materials provided by GIP in the handover ceremony consisted of 100 books from Korea that had been translated into Tetum, five laptops, bookshelves, shoe racks, bags, and children’s toys.
“There are 100 books for the first phase from Korea, already translated into Tetun, and there are also five computers that we will use to open basic computer activities for children, as well as toys such as puzzles, dolls, and others,” the Xanana Reading Room Manager told reporters at the Xanana Reading Room Lecidere, Dili, on monday.
The 100 books provided are in various categories ranging from fairy tales, animals, education, science, folklore, education, and others.
She admitted that after holding various activities ranging from reading stories, site visits from students and children, and English classes for those aged five to twelve years, the level of children’s visits began to increase from five to fifteen people every day.
South Korean Embassy representative Sungheui Park thanked Jeju Province and GIP for expanding the library at Xanana Reading Room to increase reading interest among children.
“It is very important to read and increase our knowledge in the future, and books are important consumers for our brains; from books we can learn history and prepare ourselves better for the future,” Park said.
Park reminded the children who attended the library inauguration that by reading, everyone can express and learn new things, so it is very important to build a reading habit.
At the same place, GIP Representative Director in Timor-Leste, Eun Kyoung Shin, said the Children’s Library at Xanana Reading Room is the eighth library in our project (Jeju – Biblioteka Dame ba Labarik). We have plans to open its branch in other places.
She reported that since the start of the Biblioteka Dame ba Labarik Project in 2021 until now, there have been eight branches, such as CQR Taibessi (Dili), CQR Biquelli (Ataúro), OMCTL Hera (Dili), Fahisoi Lequidoe (Aileu), Alfa Terra Tasitolu (Dili), Aileu Villa, Vila Maumeta Manutasi (Ataúro), and Xanana Reading Room Dili.
GIP is an organization based in Jeju, South Korea, that focuses on international development cooperation and global citizenship education. The organization emphasizes the importance of education as a tool for empowerment and social change, particularly in developing regions.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
