Digitizing Historical Archives for History and Peace Education in Timor-Leste
In collaboration with Centro Nacional Chega! (CNC) Timor-Leste, UNESCO Jakarta held an Inception Meeting in Dili to initiate the joint action to promote history and peace education by preserving historical archives through the “Digitalization of Chega! National Center for Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste” funded by the Republic of Korea (KOICA).
The initiative aims to strengthen the national accountability and capacity to build a better future in peace, justice, and prosperity and for the country to contribute to conflict reconciliation and peacebuilding in the region and beyond.
Mohamed Djelid, Director of UNESCO Jakarta and UNESCO Representative to Timor-Leste, stated that the initiative is in line with UNESCO’s spirit to maintain international peace and security, and as a response to multiple international commitments including the 2016 Sustainable Peace Resolutions, the Agenda for Humanity, and Agenda 2030.
Echoing the importance of peace and history education, Kim Jeong Ho, Ambassador of Republic Korea to Timor-Leste, took note that “we have to take actions together to cultivate the memories and awareness of our history for our next generation. With the support of quality peace and history education, the Republic of Korea will help the young generation in Timor-Leste to stand on their own feet.”
On the same occasion, Vice Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Timor-Leste, António Guterres, conveyed that the initiative would enhance the children’s knowledge about the history of Timor-Leste. “This will help children to have a sense of nationalism and patriotism, to love our country and have the spirit to keep learning for the better future of Timor-Leste,” said Guterres.
A total of 529 direct beneficiaries from three different target groups such as Chega! staff, history education school teachers, basic education officials of the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, and 155,832 students at 495 schools will benefit from this initiative.
UNESCO plans to build a Sustainable Management System for Chega!, establish a National Hub for Quality History and Peace Education, and strengthen the National and Regional Capacities and Partnerships for Conflict Reconciliation, Peacebuilding and State-building for Sustainable Development.