Delegations from Switzerland’s Mission 21 Visit YAO GMIT Center to Review Institutional Transformation
KUPANG,The Alpha Omega Foundation (YAO) of the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT) officially welcomed a delegation from Mission 21, an international mission organization based in Switzerland, on Thursday (June 4). The field visit, held at the YAO GMIT Headquarters in Mata Air Village, Central Kupang District, Kupang Regency, aimed to directly observe the accelerated improvements in organizational governance and ongoing community empowerment programs.
This strategic meeting was a follow-up to a series of events from the previous day, where Mission 21 and GMIT successfully co-hosted an Organizational Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop at the Harper Hotel Kupang.
The delegation was warmly received by the Chairman of the YAO GMIT Executive Board, Drs. Nithanel Pandie, MM, along with the foundation's officials. During an interactive dialogue, the foundation presented its institutional revitalization roadmap, which has successfully guided YAO GMIT to transition from a period of operational stagnation into a more dynamic organization.
Drs. Nithanel Pandie, MM explained that YAO GMIT's internal restructuring does not merely address administrative reforms. Instead, it is specifically designed to create a service model that directly impacts and strengthens the grassroots economy.
In front of the international partners, YAO GMIT highlighted several concrete initiatives in the food security sector. One of its flagship programs is the development of an integrated, modern broiler chicken farming system managed through a partnership scheme with local farming groups. Furthermore, the foundation has expanded its reach through freshwater aquaculture and the implementation of an eco-friendly organic farming ecosystem focused on environmental sustainability.
This tangible empowerment initiative also directly supports the domestic sector of the congregation by providing a guaranteed market. Under this scheme, around 100 households across the Rehobot Fatuknutu and Haumeni Nisum congregations receive intensive mentoring. This includes training in independent bokashi fertilizer production and strategies to strengthen farm management to ensure competitive yields.
The accelerated changes demonstrated by YAO GMIT garnered high praise from the representative of Mission 21 Switzerland, Dr. Claudia Bandixen, who was accompanied by the Program Coordinator for Indonesia, Dorothea Loosli. Dr. Bandixen commended the foundation's governance efficiency, which successfully aligns a social-religious mission with professional, sustainable business unit management. Mission 21 reaffirmed its strong commitment to strengthening this strategic partnership and positioning YAO GMIT as a global role model.
Concluding the series of visits, the Secretary of the YAO GMIT Executive Board emphasized that all legal steps and organizational improvement measures strictly adhere to existing regulatory frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability. Alongside legal compliance, strengthening financial accountability remains a primary pillar through the implementation of rigorous, auditable financial reporting systems.
This visit is expected to ignite enthusiasm among all elements of YAO GMIT to maintain consistent performance, reinforce cross-sector synergy, and ensure a broader positive impact on the welfare of the community.
