DILI, 31 May 2025 (TATOLI) – The “Português no Bairro” Project today commemorated World Children’s Day, which is celebrated annually on June 1st, marking its 10th anniversary at the Jorge Sampaio Cultural Center (CCJS, in Portuguese), located at the Portuguese Embassy in Dili. The event featured dance, storytelling, singing, and games.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Manuela Bairos. This initiative aims to engage children from the Bemori Village in storytelling, singing, and playing games.
The Prime Minister reflected on how children can be supported by their parents and families through education and environmental care.
The Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste affirmed that the nation’s future lies with its children. Through the “Português no Bairro” Project, supported by the Portuguese Embassy and now also by the Angolan Embassy in Timor-Leste, children will have the opportunity to speak Portuguese and learn this language in their communities.
Manuela Bairos recalled that the project has already been implemented in the municipalities of Viqueque and Aileu, involving the work of nuns who have helped more than 200 children participate in this initiative.
“We are currently focused on Bemori and Aileu to see how non-formal education works there. We also want to implement this project in other places, such as at the Angolan Embassy. I believe we can work together to teach Portuguese in neighborhoods outside of formal schooling,” the diplomat said.
The Ambassador also noted that on World Children’s Day, children from the Bemori neighborhood came with their parents to celebrate this special day.
According to Maria da Cunha, Director of the Portuguese Language Center at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), the “Português no Bairro” Project is not just about teaching the Portuguese language but also about fostering connections among people, culture, and knowledge. “It is a space where the Portuguese language becomes a medium, a message, a path, a place, and a tool for knowledge, empathy, communication, assertiveness, and mutual respect,” she emphasized.
Journalist: Jesuína Xavier
Editor: Isaura Lemos de Deus
Translation: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
