Australian and Brazilians working in partnership for a new school in Timor-Leste, soon to be established by the Province of Australia.
The Marist Brothers Province of Australia confirmed that it and the bishop of the diocese of Baucau, Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, have been in discussions for some time about the school’s location, which will be in an area of great need. The school is set to be the first for the Marists in Timor-Leste and Australian Marist Solidarity is excited by the prospect of furthering educational opportunities for young people in the region.
In preparation for the development Brazilian Brothers Manoel Soares da Silva, of the Brazil Centro-Norte province, João Batista Pereira, of the Brazil Centro-Sul province, have arrived in Australia for English lessons with a third Brother still to be chosen by the Brazil Sul-Amazonia province within the next few months.
Of course this is not the first time these three groups have collaborated with Australians and Brazilians already in Timor-Leste working together in two Australian Province programs. The Instituto Católico para Formacão de Professores (ICFP) a teachers training college in Baucau and an initial formation programme for young men aspiring to become Marist Brothers.
Timor-Leste is slowly emerging from the ashes of destruction that devastated the country in its recent past. In 1999, Timor-Leste embarked on the restoration of their Independence. During this conflict, most of the country’s infrastructure was demolished with over 95 percent of schools burnt to the ground.
AMS CEO Allen Sherry remarked that “this new school would provide young people, particularly those from vulnerable groups, with access to quality education.”
To support AMS’s work in Timor-Leste, please visit: www.australianmaristsolidarity.net.au/country/timor-leste