28 September 2005: Visit of HRH The Princess Royal to ASSERT/TLSPR

In July 2005 the British Embassy approached TLSPR about the possibility of a visit by HRH The Princess Royal to our centre. Of course we felt extremely honoured by this request. Preparations started soon afterwards: several visits to TLSPR were made by a joint team from the British Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as security checks, discussions about royal protocol, considerations about invitations etc. It was quickly decided that TLSPR would try to put the emphasis of the visit on the interaction between HRH and our clients. It was felt that if clients would explain what ASSERT is doing this would have a greater impact than the staff giving a presentation. Clients were selected and asked if they would like to participate. All of them felt very honoured and were highly motivated.

For the TLSPR staff, the royal visit gave us the impetus to complete some steps which had been planned but had not happened yet, e.g. staff uniforms, identification badges, furnishing the interior. Furthermore, we organized a banner to be put on the main road a few days before the visit. Invitations were send to some of ASSERT’s patrons, a delegation of the board, partner organisations, and local community leaders. A marble plaque was made to commemorate the support given by the government of the UK Staff received a briefing on the protocol, eg how to address the Princess, etc.

On the morning of 28 September the police were already waiting for us at the office at 7:00 . Within moments the building was buzzing with security staff checking out the building with mirrors, etc. Clients and invited guests arrived while police, security and press were all filling up the place. I had to explain and show the planned route inside the building three times (to press etc) before the actual arrival of the Princess. Milena Pires, chair of the ASSERT board, was ready with the first words of welcome for the Princess. When time was close to her arrival ( 9:10 ), all the staff members lined up under the traditional entrance. Milena welcomed the Princess and she was offered a traditional tais by Clementino, the ten year-old boy who was the first prosthetic client of TLSPR.

After this I gave a brief overview of the establishment of ASSERT/TLSPR and the disability situation in East Timor. By then the Princess herself had already made the link with the Cambodia Trust, which she knew from a previous visit to Cambodia. Then the tour started: HRH The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband, Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence, the East Timorese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Ramos-Horta, British Ambassador Tina Redshaw and other VIPs. She entered the physiotherapy hall and took her time over her interaction with the clients.

One of our clients shared his story about the loss of his leg in WW2, handing HRH his written story. Another young client was very eager to shake hands with the Princess, which she was luckily allowed to do. At this stage all of us were aware that the Princess was quite easy going and rather informal, she was a nice person to meet with. After the physiotherapy hall, a visit was paid to the Orthopaedic Workshop, here Faiz and Abed (TLSPR’s Prosthetist-Orthotist team from Pakistan) explained to the Princess some of the important features of measurement-taking and the production of orthopaedic supportive devices (prostheses and orthoses).

HRH was very interested to know were the supply of materials came from etc. In the workshop the Princess also met with Anna and Didi, two East Timorese women who have been selected to be trained as Prosthetist-Orthotists at the Cambodian School of Prosthetics & Orthotics in Cambodia . The tour was concluded with a short introduction to the invited guests. After 40 minutes, the time planned for the visit, the Princess left the building. Outside she exchanged some more words with Milena and I and she wished Anna and Didi good luck for their studies. All the staff members were delighted by the impact of the royal visit. TLSPR/ASSERT was well covered in the press after this, both on state television and in several national newspapers.

Cornelis Visser
TLSPR Director

Thomas, TLSPR rehabilitation worker:

"I felt very happy when Princess Anne visited ASSERT and shook hands with all of the staff and clients. She saw the building, the equipment etc. She talked a lot with the clients and was very friendly, for me it meant that she loves the disabled people in East Timor . I hope that her visit will support ASSERT in looking after disabled people in this country.”

Faiz, Prosthetist-Orthotist:

This is a great pleasure for me to write my comments about the visit of Princess Anne to Assert on 28 september 2005.

This day was really an unforgettable day of my life in East Timor, I was not expected that I should met personally a member of Royal family (HRH The Princess Royal) and I will shake hand with her, beside this it was a good experience for me. How you met with a member of royal family -i-e, the way how you welcome, how you talk, and how you deal. I really enjoy this when ever I did practice before her arrival.

The special thing Princess Anne take deep interest in disabled patients as well as in orthopedic workshop. She talk with every patient, she ask about past history of the patients. And inside in workshop she asks about different machines, manufacturing process and materials.

At the end I was really surprised, because I was not expect that this visit will be well organize, that how it was. The whole credit goes to all our staff, but especially to our Director.

I hope this visit boost and highlight the picture of ASSERT on the map of East Timor . And also make a focus point for the visits of great people of the world community in future, which will be helpful for the ASSERT as well as for the disabled community of East Timor.

Faiz-ur-Rehman
Prosthetist & Orthotist (Pakistan)
ASSERT Becora, Díli, Timor Leste

14 April 2005: Official Opening TLSPR

On Thursday 14th of April 2005 the Timor Loro Sa'e Centre for Physical Rehabilitation (TLSPR) was officially opened. We were proud to welcome guests, officials, donors, neighbours and clients to the brand new building at Becora. After a traditional welcome dance performed by a local group, the ASSERT board was sworn in and there were a number of heartwarming speeches. Altogether it was a significant event in the history of this new country and one which will make a real difference to the lives of many people.

Cornelis Visser
TLSPR Director