Atsabe, October 10, 2023 The National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Timor-Leste (KOMNAS PKI TL), through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO, held a training on the diversification of Tais products in Malabe village, Atsabe Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality.
This training activity is part of the Urgent Safeguarding Plan for Tais 2022–2025, after Timor-Leste has inscribed its cultural element “Tais, Traditional Textile” on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The objective of this training is to train the soru-na’in technical skills and knowledge on diversifying Tais into other utility products, such as briefcases, bags, wallets, shoes, and others, according to market demand.
Training on Diversification of Tais Products in Malabe village received maximum participation from the soru-na’in who gathered in the Hamrik Metin Culture Group, mostly young women of productive age who have been helping mothers of soru Tais in their daily activities. Participants in this training totaled twenty (20), including 17 women and 3 men. During five days from October 9 to October 13, 2023, the trainees will receive tutorial assistance for Tais diversification from the trainer experienced in the diversification of textile products (especially Tais), Mrs. Elda Ferreira de Oliveira.
At the opening of the training, Malabe chief village Mr. Carlos de Deus expressed his gratitude and pride for the opportunity that KOMNAS PKI TL gave to the community in Atsabe to become beneficiaries of the implementation of the Tais Safeguard Plan and to increase the knowledge of the soru na’in about the diversification of Tais products. “I, as a Malabe chief village, feel happy and proud to be able to hold this training in our village. We thank the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO for choosing Atsabe as the venue for this training,” as the village chief, who represents the Malabe chief village, also encouraged the participants to take advantage of this opportunity to take Tais Atsabe forward.
The implementation of this activity received financial support from the International Fund for Cultural Heritage of UNESCO (ICH Fund) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
