DBNA will host a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste the Ministry of Education for 5 days, from 13 July 2014. The delegation is here to study the Multi Language Education (MLE) pre-school program that DBNA started with the assistance of UNESCO, and the Bidayuh Language Development Project (BLDP) that was started with the assistance of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). Besides these, the delegation is also interested to experience Bidayuh culture.
Dr. Karla Smith and her husband Jim are International Literacy Consultants with SIL. They helped get the Bidayuh Sekolah Bahasa Warisan Schools started in 2007. They are currently working in East Timor, helping the government there establish Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education.
At the HQ, the delegation will be briefed on DBNA activities, in particular the MLE program and the BLDP. They will be observing the DBNA Bahasa Warisan schools in Sinjok, Benuk, and Bogag. They also will visit a primary school in Kampung Sinjok. Their visit to the following schools being arranged by the DBNA Penrissen and Bau Branches. During its stay here, the delegation will be introduced to Bidayuh cuisine, and DBNA has also arranged for some Bidayuh cultural performances by the students.
DBNA is delighted and honoured to host the delegation, and extends a warm welcome to all its members. We hope that the delegation members will also take time to enjoy the city with its clean and green setting and its friendly people and multi-cultural population.
DBNA expresses it gratitude to Timor-Leste for choosing DBNA for its study visit. We regard this as an international recognition of DBNA’s linguistics programs. We would like to thank SIL and UNESCO for recommending DBNA to be visited and for organizing it. DBNA also expresses its gratitude to members of the MLE program, the BLDP, the Education sub-committee, other relevant sub-committees, and the relevant Branches for their cooperation and support in hosting and welcoming our guests from Timor-Leste. Last, but not least, DBNA thanks the sponsors of the lunch, dinners and cultural performances that have been organized for the visit.
We wish the delegation a very fruitful and productive visit with the Dayak Bidayuh National Association and the Bidayuh community. DBNA hopes that this visit can lead to future cooperation between the two communities.
Before departing home, the Smiths and the Timorese will go to Miri to conduct teacher training there.
