Prime Minister of Timor-Leste visits World Vision's project

Utorak, Juni 2, 2015

By Nancy Waites, Policy & Advocacy Manager, and Jose da Costa, Advocacy and Strategy Manager, World Vision Timor-Leste

When World Vision Timor-Leste’s Country Director, Samaresh Nayak, met with Prime Minister Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo to present the newly launched Child Health Now campaign, he did not expect the meeting would result in the Prime Minister visiting World Vision’s work in the field.

This visit marks the first time in World Vision Timor-Leste 15 year history that the country’s Prime Minister has visited a World Vision project and marks the beginning of a closer working relationship between World Vision Timor-Leste and the government on achieving life in all its fullness for children.

However, just 12 days later, on 19 May, Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo along with his wife Dr. Tereza Soares and a delegation from his office visited World Vision Mothers Club Grupu Inan Weikun (Mothers Club of Weikun) in Leohitu Village in the Bobonaro Area Program. The Mothers Club was formed in November 2012 with the help of World Vision health promoters and with the support of the village leader. The group includes 16 mothers and focuses on improving and sustaining the nutrition of children under 5 in their village.

The group leader, Mrs Dolorosa dos Santos welcomed the Prime Minister and explained the work they do to improve the nutrition of their children, how they have built stronger working relationships with the village health practitioner and deepened their participation in the government’s health outreach program SISCA. The Mothers Club then staged a cooking demonstration to show how they prepare balanced meals for their children on a day to day basis.

The Prime Minister congratulated the mothers for their work in improving the nutrition status of children in their village and asked them to keep up their good work in supporting the development of Timor-Leste. He also asked about their plans for continuing this important activity after World Vision finishes the project. The Prime Minister was impressed by the group’s plans to continue their activity by using their newly established kitchen gardens as a source of income to fund the group once the project ends. 

This visit marks the first time in World Vision Timor-Leste 15 year history that the country’s Prime Minister has visited a World Vision project and marks the beginning of a closer working relationship between World Vision Timor-Leste and the government on achieving life in all its fullness for children.