Dili, August 13, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Thai Embassy in Timor-Leste continues to strengthen cooperation with the Alola Foundation to support women’s empowerment efforts in Timor-Leste, especially groups of mothers who are involved in tais weaving activities, as part of efforts to increase women’s economic capacity and independence.
According to the Executive Director of the Alola Foundation, Maria Imaculada Guterres, the objective of this meeting was to discuss funding support for women artisans, especially groups of tais weavers and weavers who have been receiving support from the Alola Foundation.
She said that the Alola Foundation has continued to support women’s weaving groups in the municipalities, with priority given to training, improving product quality, and helping them access the market.
“Today the Alola Foundation received an invitation from the Thai Embassy to participate in this event regarding the handover of small funds to the Alola Foundation, with the objective of supporting women artisans, especially mother weavers and weavers who the Alola Foundation has supported in the municipalities. With a small budget we can help the tais weaving network groups with training on product quality, how they can verify the products, especially the tais they produce, and how they can create various products so they can be sold in the market. In addition, it can also support the Alola Foundation so that we can provide space for mother weavers in the artisan sector, to participate and have a presence or take a place in fair spaces,” said the Executive Director of the Alola Foundation, Maria Imaculada Guterres, at the Thai Embassy in Farol, Tuesday 11/08/2026.
The Executive Director informed that Alola always provides space twice a year to gain income through fairs, in order to strengthen women’s weaving groups through household family economies and to help with children’s education through children’s nutrition.
“The Alola Foundation always holds fairs twice a year during Christmas and also during Easter, and we call it mediafel and cristiafel. This is to help women, especially those who weave tais, so they can earn income to help their household economy and also help with their children’s education through nutrition for children. We believe this is not just the first time, but every year the Thai Embassy always provides small funds to us to support the women’s groups that we have established, especially looking at women’s economic empowerment,” she explained.
She further clarified that the budget supported by the Thai Embassy amounts to more than three thousand, working together with the Alola Foundation to support 43 groups and will be established in all municipalities, especially regarding product quality on the diversification of tais products.
“The more than three thousand budget that they handed over to us is to support the 43 groups that we have established in the tais weaving network groups that have been accompanied by the Alola Foundation, and representatives from all municipalities, especially for groups that come from there because since 2003 Alola established weaving groups, they represent all the municipalities.” she said.
In addition, representing the Thai Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Atipat Rojanapaibulya, said that the consistency and commitment of the Thai Embassy in Timor-Leste has existed since 2012 until now, through support and assistance, especially in the area of empowerment for vulnerable women’s groups in Timor-Leste, which includes ASEAN members, so that they can receive support and are not left behind.
“The consistency of the Thai Embassy in Timor-Leste began in 2012 until now. The assistance is provided to help, especially in economic empowerment for women and children. The assistance is also destined for vulnerable groups, including mothers and children, with 75% at the national level, and also for youth who have the potential to develop and increase the capacity of youth in Timor-Leste. The relationship between Thailand and Timor-Leste is not only a relationship between the two governments, but also a relationship between the two nations, especially between the two peoples. Especially now that Timor-Leste has become a member of ASEAN, we cannot leave one member behind. We must help and move forward together. This relationship is not only between governments, but between the two nations and especially between the two peoples, to strengthen and increase the capacity of Timor-Leste as an ASEAN member,” said the representative of the Thai Ambassador to Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile, on this occasion, the Ambassador affirmed the Thai Government’s commitment to strengthen human security and promote the empowerment of women and children in Timor-Leste, through cooperation in the areas of public health, education, and economic development.
From 2012 until now, the Thai Government, through the Royal Thai Embassy in Dili, has continued to provide financial support and equipment to the Alola Foundation, with the objective of supporting programs and activities that benefit women, children, and vulnerable communities in Timor-Leste.
Report By: Trainees Lourenço and Santina
Photo: Trainee Santina