At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month ~
We will remember.
~ Across the Timor Sea
Remembrance Day, November 11, 2021
11 Thursday Nov 2021
Posted in Blog, Uncategorized
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Backpacks 2019 ~ Ready to go.
30 Monday Jul 2018
Posted in Blog, Uncategorized
At the beginning of the new school year, each Across the Timor Sea scholarship student is given a backpack, which is packed with items to support their school year (plus a few small ‘extras’).
Because of the challenges in transporting them, the backpacks have to be sent many months before the start of the new school year, then held for the students until first term starts.
The presentation causes great excitement and delight.
Bags, containing Backpacks, ready to be presented to students (January, 2018).
Across the Timor Sea students, holding the bags containing their backpacks.
In recent years, Trevor Canning (from Donations in Kind, Scarborough Rotary) has included these goods in the container they send to Timor Lestè, so it has been a great support and very much appreciated.
Backpacks: Packed & ready to be transported to Timor Lestè, so they can be given to the Across the Timor Sea students in 2019.
Items included vary slightly from year to year, however Jan puts much care and attention into the job, trying to match the contents with her knowledge of the children.
It is an enormous relief to have this undertaking completed.
Education
31 Saturday Mar 2018
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Education has always been a primary focus for Across the Timor Sea, and has resulted in the establishment of the Baretto/Nicolay Scholarship program. In 2018, the Across the Timor Sea scholarship has grown to 10 students receiving support for their Secondary Education.
9 of the 10 Across the Timor Sea Sponsored Students
Timor Leste` is a very young nation, and gaining independence came at a great cost. Many schools were destroyed at that time. We have come to understand that Timor Leste` lost 20% of Primary teachers and 80% of Secondary on gaining Independence, and 95% of schools were either damaged or destroyed.
Since that time there has been work towards recovery and rebuilding, however there is much to make up for.
We admire what is being achieved at St Francis of Assisi School (which is the preferred school by Ailalec Village parents and the Ailalec Council), and Jan has noted much enthusiasm for achievement and overall wellbeing of the students there.
There is justified pride in the building construction Jan saw when she was last at the school. The new building will enable school numbers to increase, providing accommodation for the nuns and female students. Included in their vision are plans for indoor sports and a sewing room.
The New Building Site
‘Across the Timor Sea’ were delighted to hear about plans for a dedicated Sewing Room, because in some of the container shipments sent there, we have included donated sewing machines and materials. This was in the hope that students would be taught sewing skills, and on returning to their home village, be able to start a cottage industry of some sort, or at least enhance their community in some way.
This program could not operate without the generous support of Sponsors.
Across the Timor Sea 