By Mr. Azevedo Marcal
President of Timor Leste Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco
Dili, Timor Leste, 5 August 2020 -- On 1 August 2020, the National Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, Timor-Leste (Federação Nacional dos Antigos Alunos de Dom Bosco de Timor-Leste) launched Aileu’s Past Pupils of Don Bosco Association called: Associação dos Antigos Alunos de Dom Bosco de Aileu (AAADB-Aileu), along with the establishment of a branch of Don Bosco’s Friends Cooperatives (Kooperativa Belun Don Bosco – KBDB), and a swearing in of the Klibur Alumni Cristal structure (one of Past Pupils’ Schools called Cristal’s Alumni).
The ceremony has begun with a Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Mario do Rosario da Costa, National Federation Delegate in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mantane Village, Sub-Municipality of Aileu Vila, Aileu Municipality. In the Holy Mass, some 50 Past Pupils of Don Bosco, including 12 women, said the payer-promise in front of Dr. Azevedo Marçal, National Federation President, and their National Federation Delegate. About 12 people represented the National Federation (including Mr. Jacinto de Oliveira Jr, Vice President GEX of National Federation, Mr. Gualdino do Carmo da Silva, Vice President of National Federation responsible for Regional Coordination, and Mr. Armando da Costa, Secretary General of National Federation), all together about 150 participants in this moving ceremony.
The National Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, Timor-Leste initially had 9 associations namely: Baucau, Fatumaca, Venilale, Laga, Quelicai, Fuiloro, Lospalos, Dili, Maliana. During the past two years, under the leadership of the new Federation Structure, two new Associations have been established, namely: Manufahi and Aileu. Then follows the official establishment of the Oecusse Association, although the members of the Oecussi centre started organizing the Don Bosco Oratory, the first ever Oratory led by the past Pupils of Don Bosco in Timor-Leste.
The Association of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco, Aileu was the second most recent Association after the Manufahi Past Pupils Association. The president of Aileu's new association, Mr. Filipe Amaral dos Santos, said this was the first association established in Aileu and they would work hard to expand the mission and vision of Don Bosco to young people through their formal and non-formal educational institutes, and they are committed to completing the structure of the association within a one-year term after which they will have to prepare a Congress to approve the Association’s internal regulations, election for the definitive structure and programs/activities for 5 years.
"Our first mission within two years is to register all past pupils who live in this municipality, and to socialise the association's program, especially how they can be involved in Don Bosco’s Friends Cooperatives (K-BDB) in order to improve their households' economy, as well as to start Don Bosco Oratory activities to gather children and young people,” the association's president stated.
The establishment of the new association in Aileu was attended by other civil authorities - Past Pupils, e.g. member of national parliament who is a past pupil of Cristal Tertiary Institute, the President and Delegate of National Federation and national structure, Rector of the Cristal Tertiary Institute and Councillor of Cristal Alumni Group.
According to the plan new other associations will be established in other municipalities in upcoming months.
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