First Ana Irena Olimpia de Almeida Preschool opens in Metinaro

This first Ana Irena Olimpia de Almeida Preschool Metinaro was opened in 2016 by the Vice-Minister for Education, Madam Dulce Soares, East Timor Trading General Manager Mrs Zeenat Awan Aluwihare, and Ms Debbie Katzman, representing Timor-Leste’s Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Dr Kirsty Sword Gusmão AO.

The construction was financed by East Timor Trading Group (ETTG) and the Office of Kirsty Sword Gusmão.

It accommodates 52 children and was the first preschool built under the Rural School Development Program, a unique collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the office of the Goodwill Ambassador for Education, whereby urgent school infrastructure needs – such as additional classrooms and entire schools – are identified in vulnerable, remote areas of the country.

“Learning through play in the early years is very important for the future development of these children. On our regular visits to the school, we have grown to know these youngsters and seen them blossom. As a company, East Timor Trading Group has an enduring commitment to this community and we wanted to help them keep their morale up during this difficult time.

– Mrs Zeenat Aluwihare

“I want to say thanks to ETTG, especially for Ms. Zeenat Aluwihare’s family for being so kind to build a kindergarten in Metinaro to help so many young children there. Yesterday was one of the best things in my life because this was the first time I took part in a charity event to help children in a remote area.

I saw that the children there really needed attention in the field of education, but one thing that really makes me happy is that when they received the gifts that we gave them and the innocence they showed, it made me think of my own daughter”.

– Jelson Silva, East Timor Trading staff member

Opening Date: 2016