Dili, September 2026 – The Centro Nacional Chega!, in cooperation with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), conducted a five-day training programme titled “Sharing Knowledge and Capacity-Building Programme on Archives and Documentary Heritage: Training on Archival Services and Publication.”
The training, held at Centro Nacional Chega! from 21 to 25 September 2026, brought together 41 employees from the National Archives of Timor-Leste (ANTL), the Archive and Museum of Timorese Resistance (AMRT), Centro Nacional Chega!, the Secretariat of State for Arts and Culture, the Max Stahl Audiovisual Centre for Timor-Leste (CAMSTL), and the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room (XGRR).
In his closing remarks, Hugo Maria Fernandes, Executive Director of Centro Nacional Chega!, congratulated the participants on successfully completing the five-day training. He emphasised the importance of increasing officials’ knowledge of archives, noting that archival work involves not only preserving papers and correspondence—it is also an essential part of life.
“On behalf of Centro Nacional Chega!, I thank the Government of Indonesia for supporting this programme. I hope that all participants have benefited from it. Each of you will receive a certificate recognising the skills and knowledge you have gained,” he said.
At the same event, Kim Hye Yong, Coordinator of UNESCO’s Antenna Project in Dili, Timor-Leste, congratulated both the trainers and the participants. He stressed that archives do more than record events: they preserve the collective memory of a people.
He added that archives can serve as a foundation for peace and should be preserved and made accessible so that young people can learn from historical records and evidence. Archives can help build mutual understanding and contribute to lasting peace. A society that learns from history is one that recognises its past and upholds human rights, truth, dialogue, and reconciliation.
“I believe this programme has been valuable in strengthening the participants’ skills and practical knowledge of preservation and the protection of collective memory. I appreciate ANRI’s efforts,” he said.
Wiwi Diana Sari, a Deputy System of the National Archives at ANRI, said the training was important for strengthening Timorese participants’ knowledge of archival preservation. She explained that preservation is a crucial aspect of archival work, encompassing records management, organisation, risk assessment, disaster management, restoration, and digitisation.
The training was facilitated by a team from ANRI. Participants studied archival services and publications, the publication of archival sources, and archival exhibitions. The programme concluded with exhibitions prepared by the trainees.
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