During 4 - 7 June 2025, a delegation from the Office of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Projects (OPSP) and Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), led by Col. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nantaporn Viravathana, Advisor to OPSP, visited Timor-Leste to follow up on the implementation of the Collaborative Project on Children and Youth Development under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

 

Over the course of the three-day programme, the delegation visited five participating schools in Dili and Ermera municipalities, namely Escola Básica Central Hera, Escola Básica Filial Acanuno, Ensino Pré-Escolar Acanuno, Escola Básica Central Fatuquero, and Escola Básica Central Dona Ana Lemos, to observe the progress of project implementation and exchange views with teachers and project coordinators. An online meeting was also held with Escola Básica Central Sao Jose in Baguia, allowing the delegation to discuss the school’s current situation and challenges with its principal.

 

In addition, the delegation paid a courtesy call on H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This was followed by a meeting with Ms. Bella Galhos, Manager of the “Dapur Presidente ba Labarik” (President’s Kitchen for Children) Programme, and a visit to Cantina Matak, where the initiative is being implemented to combat malnutrition among children and other vulnerable groups. On behalf of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the delegation presented a donation of 1,000 USD, along with milk tablets and vegetable seeds, to support the programme’s efforts to improve child nutrition in Timor-Leste.

 

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mrs. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste, during which both sides, together with the Ministry’s project coordinator, discussed the challenges and future direction of the Collaborative Project. H.E. the Minister expressed her strong commitment to supporting the ongoing efforts to ensure the successful and sustainable implementation of the Project under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness in Timor-Leste.

 

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has worked extensively in education and youth development, both in Thailand and internationally. Since 2014, Her Royal Highness has implemented the Collaborative Projects on Children and Youth Development in six schools across Timor-Leste. In addition, six Timorese teachers have been awarded the Princess Maha Chakri Award, presented biennially since 2015 to honour outstanding educators in ASEAN and Timor-Leste. Her Royal Highness has also undertaken two official visits to Timor-Leste, in 2014 and 2019, which have further strengthened the close ties and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries. The visit of the delegation from OPSP and TICA reflects an ongoing commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in of human development, particularly in education, nutrition, and youth development.

 

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