TIMOR LESTE: Thousands of youth will soon be given the opportunity for a broader scope of education as Science of Life Systems 24/7 (SOLS 24/7) founders met with the country’s Prime Minister earlier this month.
M. Singh, Raj Ridvan Singh and Dhanveer Singh put forward a formal request and discussed the urgent need for land, with buildings, and special permission to install and use a VSAT (satellite internet access) with Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Prime Minister H.E. Xanana Gusmao.
The land, with buildings, will be able to accommodate 700 to 1,000 full-time boarding students as well as reach out to 1,500 to 2,000 daily part-time students, in the district of Dili.
It would also provide space for an additional 200 computers (currently in SOLS 24/7 store) in the main center, bringing the total of operational computers to 330.
Meanwhile, the VSAT would provide Internet access for SOLS 24/7’s ICT (Information Communication Technology) Lab in Dili as well as its 10 district centers.
VSAT Internet access is vital to carry out ICT programs and to train students in ICT4D (Internet Communication Technology for Development).
Dhanveer, who described the meeting as “extremely productive”, said SOLS 24/7 is unofficially the largest non-formal education providers in the country, educating over 4,250 youths daily.
SOLS 24/7 currently reaches out to more than 300 full-time boarding students in its Fatuhada center and over 450 full-time boarding students in 10 of its district centers. It also educates 1,500 part-time students in Fatuhada and 2,000 in its districts.
H.E. Xanana Gusmao, who has always viewed education as paramount in poverty reduction, congratulated the three founders for their contributions towards the development of Timorese youth.
He also expressed his happiness with the results shown by SOLS 24/7 students throughout the country and said he was aware of the activities within the schools as his foundation, Fundação Xanana Gusmão, provided scholarships to study in SOLS 24/7 for the children of veteran soldiers.
The meeting ended with the Prime Minister making a personal commitment to do what he could to assist in SOLS 24/7’s education efforts on a personal level.
A day prior to meeting the Prime Minister, President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, H.E. Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo and FPCD Executive Director, Ms. Claudia Abate made a visit to the SOLS 24/7 Dili center to learn more about the school’s programs.
H.E. Fernando, who arrived during the daily morning part-time session, was genuinely amazed at the sight of hundreds of Timorese youth practicing English under the guidance of their peers.
The SOLS 24/7 founders brought him on a tour of the center’s facilities, including the computer lab and classrooms.
At the end of his visit he told the crowd of about 1,000 youth that skilled citizens were needed to develop the country.
He also said that SOLS 24/7 was a very important NGO for Timorese as it was able to provide the youth with skills required to build the country and society.
Congratulating SOLS 24/7 and the participating youth for their commitment to learning, peace and development, H.E. Fernando also expressed interest in the SOLS 24/7 district centers and its contribution to rural education.
To see more photos and read more about H.E Lasama’s and FPCD Executive Director please visit http://www.postconflictdev.org/
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