The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, participated as a speaker at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Timor-Leste 2024, promoted by the Rotary Club of Timor-Leste, on October 11th, 2024, in Liquiça. During his speech, Sabino emphasised the importance of youth in building the nation’s future and encouraged young people to embrace today’s social and technological challenges. 
In his speech, Mariano Assanami Sabino presented the theme “Evolution and Responsibility of Young People in the Social Sector”, emphasising the fundamental role of the new generations in the country’s development. “The future of this country depends a lot on young people. Therefore, the State and the Government continue to play their main role by creating programmes in politics, economics, culture and the social sector to guarantee the future of young people”, said the Vice Prime Minister.
The Vice Prime Minister praised the work of the Timor-Leste RYLA team, saying that this annual training has played an essential role in preparing young people to become valuable and active citizens in society. “Young people who have the opportunity to participate in this training should make the most of it. When they return to their communities, they should work together, strengthening the spirit of volunteerism and carrying out social actions in the places where they live”, he added. 
During the training, which 84 young people attended, the Vice Prime Minister reiterated the importance of a “social revolution” among young Timorese, encouraging them to adopt the principles of self-determination to strengthen patriotism and nationalism to contribute to building the State, the Nation. “Timor-Leste has adopted a democratic system, which guarantees everyone the right and freedom to move around the territory without feeling threatened or afraid”, he stressed, referring to the need for organisations, including martial arts, to use “their platforms for positive action”. 
In an era of rapid technological evolution, Mariano Assanami Sabino also emphasised the importance of young Timorese adapting to the new digital tools, which are constantly being updated. “It’s essential that we use these tools to the full to keep up with global developments”, he said.
RYLA Timor-Leste 2024, organised by the Rotary Club of Timor-Leste, focuses each year on training young leaders, preparing them to face the challenges of the future and actively contributing to the nation’s development.