Since 2018, Spend it Well, Balibo House Trust and Rotary International Australia have collaborated to improve the quality of education in the Balibo sub-district. This partnership has delivered 4 schools, 3 school playgrounds, 2 school gardens and the supply of school furniture and educational materials for the area.
The partnership has also funded a local Balibo teacher, Rino Fernandes, to work as a teacher mentor with 5 schools in the Balibo sub-district which have a total of 510 students.
Rino has received training and support under a teacher mentoring program set up by The Australian Government and Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Education based around the country’s excellent Year 1-6 National Curriculum which was developed with assistance from international educators. The program’s funding did not extend to a mentor in the Balibo sub-district, which is why we have stepped in to fund Rino’s role.
Rino has worked hard to gain the trust and respect of the teachers at the 5 schools he works with, which has allowed him to deliver significant improvements in teaching levels across the schools.
Rino is also a vital liaison for Spend it Well, Balibo House Trust and Rotary in assisting with prioritising school needs, delivery of donated school furniture and school materials.
The annual cost of this program is A$7,600 which equates to A$15 per child. The program does not currently have any funding after April 2023.
