An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | June 3, 2020

U.S. Embassy Dili provides Timorese-made Reusable Masks to Help Thousands of Children Safely Return to School

U.S. Embassy in Timor Leste

U.S. Embassy in Timor Leste -- The United States Embassy in Timor-Leste donated fifteen thousand Timorese-made reusable fabric masks to the Ministry of Education as part of its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes as the Ministry of Education prepares for children to return to classrooms. The donation will benefit thousands of school children and promote a safe and healthy learning environment.

The reusable fabric masks were handed over by U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Office of Defense Cooperation Chief Major Pablo Valerín, and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dulce Soares.

“We stand in support of the Government of Timor-Leste through investing in youth,” said U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Fitzpatrick. “These masks will ensure children can safely return to schools and have an additional form of protection from COVID-19 and other preventable diseases.”

The U.S. Embassy project provided funding for over twenty economically marginalized women to create the masks over a period of two months. The project aims to prevent the spread of infectious disease, provide economic opportunity and reduce medical waste. The project supports the U.S. Embassy’s broader strategy of providing economic opportunities to local workers and delivering sustainable solutions. The project was funded by United States Military’s Indo-Pacific Command, which is committed to supporting the regional fight against COVID-19.

The hand washing station project is part of the over $1.6 million committed to help the Government of Timor-Leste fight COVID-19. In Timor-Leste, the United States has invested nearly $70 million in health assistance and more than $542 million in total assistance over the past 20 years.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,231
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Minister of National Defence Judith Collins of New Zealand
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 25, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Ryder provided the following readout...

First of its kind deployment of Marine cyber forces to the INDO-PACOM Theater
Marines with Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command pose for photos in the cyber operations center at Lasswell Hall aboard Fort Meade, Maryland, Feb. 5, 2020. MARFORCYBER Marines conduct offensive and defensive cyber operations in support of United States Cyber Command and operate, secure and defend the Marine Corps Enterprise Network. This image is a photo illustration.
March 25, 2024 - Marines assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyber Command deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the inaugural iteration of a new cyber rotational force concept...

15th MEU, USS Somerset Arrive for Third Iteration of Tiger TRIUMPH
U.S. Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors assigned to the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) march during the opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH in Visakhapatnam, India, March 19, 2024. Tiger TRIUMPH is a U.S.-India tri-service amphibious exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness and interoperability. Tiger TRIUMPH enables U.S. and Indian Armed Forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to better achieve mutual regional security objectives. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)
March 25, 2024 - U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked upon the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25), arrived in Visakhapatnam, India to participate in the third iteration of...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...