DILI, 29 April 2025 (TATOLI) – Today, a handover ceremony for the Project for the Rehabilitation of the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room was held at the Reading Room, in the presence of the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares.
Under this project, the facilities of the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room such as Uma Mahon, the Library, Exhibition Center, pavement and outside wall and fence were rehabilitated.
The grant contract for this project was signed on January 12, 2024 with an assistance amount of US$68,324.
The assistance is provided through Japan’s cultural cooperation scheme “Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP)” which aims to facilitate cultural exchanges and deepen friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and its partner countries by providing funds to non-profit organizations of those countries to equip and construct/rehabilitate facilities that contribute to the promotion of culture and higher education.
During the ceremony, Tetsuya KIMURA, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste said “providing access to educational resources and information to children and youth is essential for the development of the nation, as they are the future of this country.”
Ambassador Kimura hopes that this project will enrich the lives of Timorese children and youth by increasing their exposure to culture and books, and will strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation between Japan and Timor-Leste, not only in economic development but also in cultural areas.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
