Also available in: Tetum Contacts: in Dili, Luis Sequeira (670) 723 0554 lsequeira@worldbank.org in Sydney, Elisabeth Mealey 61-2-9235 6331 emealey@worldbank.org Dili, October 18, 2005---The World Bank celebrates Family Day throughout its country offices every year by including the families of its staff in some activity for children. This year, staff at the World Bank office in Dili, found a unique way to help the community by honoring a promise it had made to the children of Rita Primary School in Mau-lau, sub district Maubisse, Ainaro, on an earlier field visit. 
Students at Rita School in Maubisse |
On Friday, October 14, staff arrived at Rita schools with spades, shovels, pick axes and cement to make a playing field for volley ball at the children’s school. When the excited children finished their welcome songs and scrambling for sweets, they joined the staff, teachers, the chefe de aldeia in leveling the sloping field which was strewn with heavy boulders. They worked all morning, despite the hot sun. By lunch time, there was a brand new playing field with the concrete drying around the poles for the net.
The excited children could barely control their joy as the Country Manager, Ms Elisabeth Huybens, kicked off the first games with two volley balls, followed by a soccer ball and a set of soccer team uniforms. Not forgetting the more serious side of its activities, the school also received basic supplies such as copy books, pens, pencils, erasers, all of which was bought from money donated by the staff. 
Students and World Bank staff build a volleyball field |
“In previous years we have visited orphanages or invited children to our offices. This year we wanted to do something different; making a volley ball playing field was great fun for the kids -and a healthy diversion for those of us who would like to exercise more,” said Ms Elisabeth Huybens, World Bank Country Manager. “We hope our small contribution will help the kids with their studies and sports activities”. Antonio de Araujo, a third year student of the school was one of those who expressed his happiness, “We are very happy because before we used to play soccer with balls made out of plastic bags, but now we can play soccer with proper balls. Yipee! We also thank the World Bank staff for providing us a volley ball field and other stuff. This is just great for our school”. Rita Primary School was built under the Fundamental School Quality Project (FSQP) and recently inaugurated a second wing with additional classrooms, toilets and school furniture. The students study from Classes One to Four in two shifts to meet the local demand. For more information please visit www.worldbank.org/tl.
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