At AMS we believe that sustainable growth can only be achieved by building the local community’s capacity to forge their own path to development. This capacity development is reaching new heights in Timor-Leste as Mr Sebastião Simões dos Santos who is well known to MSA schools and takes up the role of In-country Project Coordinator for AMS.
Earlier this year Brother Tony Clark fms completed eight years in Timor-Leste carrying out many roles concurrently including AMS In-country Project Coordinator. During his time in this role Brother Tony worked with many East Timorese who envisaged initiatives that provide educational opportunities for the young people of the region. His approach promoted local leadership, capacity development and continues to inspire many young people to seek out educational opportunities and provide them for others.
In 2013, Brother Tony engaged Mr Sebastião Simões dos Santos due to his interest in learning about project management and in providing support for the international development works of the Marist Brothers. Since then Sebastião has developed an excellent working relationship with AMS. When Brother Tony announced the completion of his work in Timor-Leste Sebastião was the ideal candidate for the role.
Sebastião has now been working with AMS directly since March this year. He undertakes regular project monitoring visits, collection of case studies and, as Brother Tony did so well, provides the direct link to projects in difficult to reach locations. The introduction of this dedicated role has increased the capacity of AMS to update donors on the progress in Timor-Leste.
Sebastião has also stepped up to the additional responsibility of supporting school immersions to Timor-Leste. The feedback from schools has been very positive.
We must thank Sebastião and Brother Robert Speare, who now carries out the financial accounting for projects, for their commitment and professionalism. We look forward to working with them to build upon the work already taking place.
Finally, we are ever grateful for Brother Tony’s effective work over the years. It has set AMS development work in Timor-Leste on an upwards trajectory toward achieving our vision for the future.