On 1 April 2024, H.E. Mr. Atipat Rojanapaibulya, Ambassador of Thailand to Timor-Leste, visited the Royal Thai Embassy’s project to promote the application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) at Ediri Primary School in the Vatubou Village of Maubara, Liquica Province. During the visit, the Ambassador handed over construction materials for the next phase of the project, including a duck shelter as well as new water tanks and drip irrigation system for the vegetable plot. This contribution is a follow-up activity to last year's successful collaboration between the Embassy, the school and the local community to address the water resource problem and set up a vegetable plot for the school’s lunch program.

On this occasion, the Ambassador reiterated the importance of applying SEP for sustainable development within communities, based on 3 pillars of moderation, reasonableness, and risk management. Thailand has been sharing the principles of SEP to Timor-Leste since its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in 2000. For the ongoing project at Ediri School, the Embassy collaborated with Mr. Salvador Ribeiro, a Timorese agriculture extension officer who previously received SEP training in Thailand, to adapt SEP to the local context and community needs. Furthermore, the Ambassador emphasized the significance of community involvement and a sense of ownership, which would ensure the project's long-term sustainability. The Embassy hoped that the SEP project at Ediri School could serve as a model for other schools in the future.

* * * * * * *