Our partners from the Burleigh Heads Catholic Parish have long had a connection with the Ossu community in Timor-Leste.
The parish is doing fantastic work to support Marist Solidarity with plans to rehabilitate and repair six severely damaged classrooms at St Teresinha’s Junior High School in Ossu.
So far, more than $24,000 has been raised through donations and initiatives, such as craft workshops and sales of craft items. Students at Marymount Primary School have contributed to this outstanding fundraising effort by raising $1,500, which will also go towards the St Teresinha’s project.
The project was initiated by the local community in Timor-Leste when building professionals assessed the existing buildings as being unsafe and in extremely poor condition.
Damage to the school buildings occurred during the time of military conflict, more than 15 years ago. Buildings have cracked walls, holes and rusted roofs, and this has caused serious pest and water damage. During the wet season, students are often sent home because of leaking buildings.
Burleigh Heads parishioners and long-time supporters of the Ossu community, Sue and Bren Milsom, revisited St Teresinha’s in June, continuing the friendship between these parishes through prayer and solidarity.
Plans to renovate the school are now well underway and construction is due to start in 2016. Repairs have been made to temporary structures to make them usable until the renovation is completed.
Sue and Bren say, “It is our hope that by sharing our story from Timor-Leste, we may motivate others to support these projects, for our faith filled, but cash poor friends in Ossu.”
Support for this much-needed project is still required.
To donate to this project or find out more click here.