MWIA makes a difference in Timor-Leste

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The History of Loreto Gari-uai Pre-Primary  School and Community Centre

Timor-Leste, located over 400 kilometres north of Australia, is one of the least developed countries in the world, with basic health, literacy and income levels similar to sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the past decade, the newly independent country has travelled down the path of reconciliation as part of the healing process trying to recover from its violent and traumatic history. Most Timorese live in rural areas and many households have insufficient food to feed themselves all year round. According to UNICEF two thirds of the population are under the age of 25, approximately 40% of children are malnourished and more than 58% of the population is illiterate. With so many young children in need of education the school system is simply under-resourced.

The Loreto Sisters along with MWIA are committed to addressing the lack of educational opportunities facing the Timorese people in the remote area of Gari-uai by building the first Loreto Pre-Primary School in Timor-Leste. The interim Pre-Primary school opened on 1 June 2015 in a refurbished community building, and today the school operates from a newly purpose-built building.

Seventy children attend the Pre-Primary school on a regular basis. In 2018, the Community Centre commenced adult classes and regular health clinics were held.

The path to realising this dream began in 2002 following an invitation from the Superior General to all Loreto Provinces asking them to have the courage to move to new places to “take some risks, however small, in moving out from safe and familiar situations” to places that would benefit their work.

Currently Loreto Sisters, Margie Bourke, Selvi Adaikalam, Margaret Mary Flynn and Nguyen Ai Thien are living in Timor-Leste.

From the outset this has been a community–based project, centred on educating the children of Gari-uai. Now the parents and the whole community are benefiting from adult education and employment. There is hope for a brighter future for generations to come.

Loreto Ostico Building Project

Partner | Fundacao Loreto Timor-Leste

Location | Ostico, Timor-Leste

Overview

Building a community centre and residence for the Loreto Sisters in the village of Ostico will enable the sisters to take part in the community’s life and make a lasting contribution to its educational, spiritual and human development.

The Loreto Sisters have faithfully served the people of Timor-Leste since 2006. Having successfully built a pre-school and a community development centre in Gari-Uai, they now plan to assist the neighbouring village of Ostico.

With an estimated population of 1700 people, the village of Ostico will work alongside the Loreto Sisters on a range of initiatives that promote their basic human rights, including the right to education. Investing in education helps individuals achieve their potential and leads to positive changes within the community and the social fabric of a nation. Improved educational attainment promotes economic growth and employment opportunities, results in healthier families and communities, reduces infant and maternal mortality rates, and leads to empowerment and greater socio-political involvement.

Challenges

Timor-Leste has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. National lockdowns and movement restrictions within the country have slowed down the supply of materials, resulting in delays to the project construction schedule.

Thankfully, work onsite has continued throughout the year, albeit slowly. The local builder is working with the project manager and engineering consultant to ensure construction is completed as soon as possible. To date, excavation works have been finalised, boundary fences erected, the water bore installed and the building foundations laid.

Impact

This project will allow the Loreto Sisters to make a lasting educational and spiritual impact in Ostico through the delivery of equitable learning opportunities at the community centre. In keeping with Loreto’s core vision, a particular focus of these programs will be the identification and empowerment of local women with leadership potential.

Loreto Sisters’ residence

The residence will provide a permanent home for up to eight Loreto Sisters and young Timorese women interested in joining them in their mission. The residence is vital in cementing the ongoing commitment of Loreto to the people of Timor-Leste by ensuring there are enough qualified people to enable the Ostico community to access education, health, clean water and employment.

Community centre

The community centre will provide Ostico with a permanent space to conduct quality learning programs. It will also provide a place large enough to hold community events and meetings.

Significantly, the community centre will be equipped to act as a base for volunteers to reside when contributing to the growing suite of community development and educational activities.

Activities

The main project activity is the construction of a community centre and permanent residence for the Loreto Sisters. Given the complexities of building in such a remote area, in a country with limited infrastructure, this project could take two years to complete.

The community centre will consist of two rooms for local community use, two classrooms, an office, five bedrooms for volunteer and visitor accommodation, while the residence will be able to house up to eight Loreto Sisters.

Mary Ward International Australia thanks the Noel and Carmel O’Brien Family Foundation for their generous support of this project.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PROJECT SUMMARY FLYER
Of Our ostico building project

Australia

MWIA is committed to supporting Indigenous Australians, giving hope and empowerment.

India

MWIA has been supporting our Loreto Sisters and their projects in India since inception. We work hard to continue our commitment to India in an attempt to foster sustainable change amongst so many people who need our help.

Kenya

In Kenya, our Loreto Sisters work with the Stop Female Genital Mutilation Campaign to educate women, men and community leaders about the dangers of this harmful cultural practice. We also provide quality tertiary education to two orphans from the Nyumbani Village.

Peru

In Peru, the Loreto Sisters have worked and lived in Jicamarca, Peru for over 15 years. In partnership with the Jesuits and the local community, the Sisters established a primary and secondary school. Tailoring workshops have now also been established, encouraging women to gain employment and start their own business.

South Sudan

The Loreto Mission in Rumbek, South Sudan has assisted the Maker Keui community through the provision of education, health and employment. This project will improve the standards of personal hygiene of 1477 primary and secondary school students and young women studying in Loreto Schools, Rumbek.

Timor-Leste

Sitting on Australia’s doorstep is Timor-Leste, one of the least developed countries in the world. Join MWIA in raising much needed funds to support communities in the remote villages of the Baucau district.

Vietnam

MWIA currently supports the work of the Loreto Sisters in Vietnam by providing educational scholarships to ensure students have the resources and support to complete tertiary education. MWIA is proud to help women access a university education and create a brighter future for themselves and their families. MWIA also supports Loreto Vietnam, an organisation whose work focuses on early childhood and primary education, providing a strong foundation for future learning and development.

Zambia

MWIA provides funds to the Baby Milk Project in Zambia where it is estimated there are more than one million orphans whose mothers have died in childbirth or from HIV/AIDS. We also work to improve the lives of local students by providing them with scholarships in the district of Lukulu.

Timor-Leste

The History of Loreto Gari-uai Pre-Primary  School and Community Centre