13 June 2014
14 Teachers Visit Dili for 3 Days of Training
14 teachers from the Rural Schools Development Program’s schools (some coming from as far as 9 hours away) are in Dili for a 3 day training workshop. The course includes sessions on story telling, setting up a library, computer skills and science and maths. They’re also visiting the Resistance Museum and attending the premiere of a documentary about Kirsty Sword Gusmao. Total cost is approx US$2,000 and includes trainer fees, workbooks, children’s readers, USB’s, transport and meals over 3 days. This is all being funded by the fabulous people at the Rotary Club of Melbourne.
 
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor, Lospalos East Timor, Macalaco East Timor, Maucale East Timor, Ossoluga, OSTICO EAST TIMOR, Seisal
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27 May 2014
Walls Halfway Up at Seisal
Seisal School is coming along at a great pace. The foundations are done and the block walls are half finished. School must go on despite the construction work and, as you can see from the photos, the 350 kids are still being taught in the one damaged, but usable, building at the school. The 6 new classrooms should be finished in about 2 months.
       
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30 April 2014
Beautiful Classroom with a View
This is from one of the major donors for Ossoluga High School who visited it recently:
“‘It’s a beautiful’ ‘room with a view’ is the thought that ran through my mind when I saw Ossologa school for the first time. Within seconds I was transformed from nearly shedding a few tears to being totally uplifted. It had been very emotional to see the students’ and community’s welcoming arch, until the school came into view. We were there for the final inspection, payment and handing over of the keys.
As we inspected the classrooms and staffroom, the teacher in me surfaced. I thought of the many rooms I had taught in over the years and how uplifting it is to teach in a pleasant one. I kept thinking how wonderful it would be to teach or learn in these rooms with their views of tree tops and the Matebians. As well, despite the day being hot and humid, it was so pleasant inside – the building’s design and siting allows capture of breezes and light.
When my attention turned to the walls I could only think of what a joy it would be to display students’ work on those large high walls. I’d really, really enjoy teaching in rooms like these.I can only imagine how fantastic it will be for students and teachers alike to switch from their dark, deteriorating rooms with their uneven, dusty earthen floors, palm frond walls and re-cycled metal roof to their beautiful school with a view. And switch they did that very afternoon.
Now there is an added impetus to do that long daily walk more regularly and for more years, to and from a school which is so beautiful. It must change some students’ lives. ”
 
project: Ossoluga
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24 April 2014
Seisal School is Underway
Construction is well and truly underway at Seisal Primary School. The foundations are going in and the builder Elvino and his crew should be finished in 3-4 months.
project: Seisal
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03 April 2014
Ostico School’s First Ever Uniforms
The 364 children at Ostico School received 3 uniforms each last weekend thanks to some fabulous people at the Australian International School in Singapore. The Singapore AIS changed their uniform last year and Monica Mayer and her team of helpers spend countless hours gathering, sorting and packing about 5,000 uniform pieces which were in perfect condition, but no longer needed at the school. The school’s parent group paid to ship the uniforms to Timor Leste and then at the Timor end, Agostinho Soares and Jenny Coles collected the uniforms from the port, sorted the uniforms suitable for the Ostico children, repacked them and reloaded them into a borrowed UN mini bus before driving 4 hours outside Dili and delivering them in person. This was something which would simply not have happened without the dedication, energy and generosity of Monica and her team. These are the first uniforms the Ostico children have ever had.
  
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