Between June 3 and 7, 2025, a team from the Office of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Projects (OPSP), Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Royal Thai Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste visited the participating schools to follow up the progress of the Collaborative Project on Children and Youth Development under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The Collaborative Project has been implemented since 2014 aiming to strengthen schools’ capacities to fight hunger and improve children’s nutrition and health through the application of Her Royal Highness’s practical experiences. Currently, there are six schools participating in the project including Escola Básica Central Hera, Escola Básica Filial Acanuno and Ensino Pré-Escolar Acanuno in Dili; Escola Básica Central Fatuquero and Escola Básica Central Dona Ana Lemos in Ermera Province and Escola Básica Central Sao Jose in Baucau Province.
Her Royal Highness has graciously provided funding, tools and other resources required to carry out development activities according to the school plan such as constructing or renovating infrastructure—such as hand-washing facilities, toilets, water supply systems, school buildings, fences—as well as agricultural tools and medicine and first-aid kit. In addition, training programs for empowering teachers have been provided from time to time. The project has led to noticeable improvements in students’ health and well-being.
On this occasion, the delegation paid a courtesy call on President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. José Ramos-Horta, and met with Project Manager of “Dapur Presidente ba Labarik” (The President’s Kitchen for Children), Ms. Bella Galhos, followed by a site visit to observe the project operation at Cantina Matak, which aims to reduce malnutrition among children and other vulnerable groups in Timor-Leste. Before leaving, the team handed Her Royal Highness’ donation of USD 1,000 along with gift packs of milk tablets and vegetable seeds to Ms. Bella Galhos, a project manager, to support the project.
At the end of the trip, the team also met with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Education, H.E. Dulce de Jesus Soares, and project coordinators to discuss about ways to move forward and make this collaborative project sustainable.
Escola Básica Central Hera School
Escola Básica Filial Acanuno School and Ensino Pré-Escolar Acanuno School
Escola Básica Central Fatuquero School
Escola Básica Filial Dona Ana Lemos School
Escola Básica Central Sao Jose School (Online Meeting)
The delegation paid a courtesy call on President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. José Ramos-Horta, and met with Project Manager of “Dapur Presidente ba Labarik” (The President’s Kitchen for Children), Ms. Bella Galhos, followed by a site visit to observe the project operation at Cantina Matak.
The team met with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Education, H.E. Dulce de Jesus Soares, and project coordinators.
