Our goal is to help educate Timor-Leste's greatest resource - its' children
We fund and manage the construction of school buildings in remote parts of Timor-Leste.
The Timor-Leste government is working hard to build the schools its’ children need, however its funds are limited. Between 2009 and 2014 we completed seven school projects with Kirsty Sword Gusmão as part of the Rural Schools Development Program. Since that time, we have worked independently, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Education.
We ask the Ministry of Education what schools are in great need, but which they do not have the budget to assist. We then do our due diligence to choose a school in a supportive and proactive community and obtain quotes for the work. Our donors are sent the project details and cost and when we have sufficient funds we start construction – the build usually takes 4 or 5 months. Our project manager, Agostinho, works directly with the builders and visits schools regularly during construction to monitor progress. Once the school is completed, we hand the buildings over to the government, which is then responsible for maintaining them, running the school and paying the teachers.
We establish school garden projects
Timor-Leste has one of the worst rates of children’s malnutrition in the world – with 53-57% of children under five having stunting (severe malnutrition). This has consequences for their future health, education, productivity and capacity.
We have established and manage school garden projects in several schools, teaching children about nutrition and horticulture and growing fruit and vegetables for their school lunches.
We provide desks and chairs
There is a great shortage of school furniture in Timor-Leste. We partner with Rotary Donations in Kind – Australia to save great quality second hand desks and chairs from landfill in Australia and deliver them to the children in Timor-Leste who need them.
We provide playgrounds
Rotary in Australia works to salvage, clean, repair and store good quality playgrounds which are being replaced and would otherwise be sent to landfill. When we’re able to find donors to provide the shipping and transport cost, we bring those playgrounds to Timor and install them at schools where we work.
We use 100% of donations on the project the donor chooses
No donor money is spent on administrative or fundraising costs – these are all paid for by our founders. Our donors choose the project they want to assist and receive regular photos and updates – many actually visit the schools.