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.
AMS is pleased to report that two of our supported projects in Timor-Leste have plans to increase their reach this year due to increasing requests from the local community for their services. The Children and Youth Centre Ponta Leste (CYCPL), a non-formal education centre providing out of school tutoring and lessons, has expanded its enrolments from 241 students in 2017 to 403 students in 2018. Katilosa will continue to gradually expand its outreach to provide disability services to 16 villages and to include facilitation of entry into mainstream schools for 50 children with a disability.
AMS Timor-Leste projects coordinator Michael Coleman remarked the ‘we are deeply grateful for the East Timorese program coordinators, staff and volunteers for their commitment to this valuable work with some of the most marginalised young people of this region.’
These expansions are a very positive sign that the communities are engaged with the programs. The staff running these programs continue to listen to the local needs and by working in partnership with AMS, we are able to respond to their needs.
CYCPL is well known to many Marist students having been a popular destination for MSA immersion groups over many years. The MSA communities’ support of this project has allowed the centre to operate four after school subjects: sports, English, literacy and computers. Children’s rights workshops are conducted for the students and the local community and sporting events are held throughout the year. A resource centre is available with books, games and other activities.
Katilosa runs its community base rehabilitation outreach and family support groups from their centre in Darasula, forty minutes drive from Old Town Baucau. The programs specialise in early detection and intervention for physical disabilities, community-based rehabilitation, physiotherapy, vocational and technical education, inclusive play, music, art and drama. The group provides critical support to families in a country where cultural stigmas attached to disability are difficult to overcome.