education is the greatest personal freedom that a society can impart on its people. ...

Amartiya Sen, Nobel Prize winner

y o u n g p e o p l e ' s e d u c a t i o n s c h o l a r s h i p s

goal	to enable students from disadvantaged areas to access education within East Timor and complete their secondary education (years 10 - 12)
location	Lolotoe subdistrict, Bobonaro district, East Timor Fohorem subdistrict, Suai district, East Timor
recipients	students who have completed junior high school (year 9) and want to complete their education but are disadvantaged by distance and poverty 26 young people granted scholarships in 2003, supporting their education to 2006 In 2004, 28 additional scholarships are being offered to students of Lolotoe (16) and Fohorem (12)
budget	Approximated at AUS$500 per student p.a.
duration	2003 – 2006 (group 1) 2004 – 2007 (group 2)

the education gap

In the remote areas of East Timor, educational opportunities are extremely limited. In Lolotoe subdistrict for example (population 7000, scattered amongst 30 villages), the only high school provides education to year 9. To continue education, students must study in the larger cities within East Timor such as Dili, Maliana or Baucau. Whilst these students have the desire to further their education, this is often financially impossible.

The majority of those living in remote areas such as Lolotoe and Fohorem are subsistence farmers and have no income. The vast majority live well below the poverty line, most have no income. Many young people get caught up in this poverty cycle; they fall out of education because they are poor and remain poor due to limited education.

As an example of how remote Lolotoe and Fohorem are, I recently traveled to East Timor (June 2004) and planned to visit both Fohorem and Lolotoe. Traveling to Lolotoe took 2 days of difficult travel; mostly by 4wd, with the last part of the journey only accessible by foot or motorbike. Fohorem is approximately 25km from Lolotoe along the border of East Timor and Indonesia, however its almost impossible to access Fohorem from Lolotoe. To travel to Fohorem you need to travel inland (away from the border), then to the coast to come from the other direction. Unfortunately I didn't make it to Fohorem as the week I was traveling the roads had been washed away and the truck that could make it through was in Dili.

bridging the gap - education scholarships

Education is the greatest personal freedom that a society can impart on its people.(Amartiya Sen, Nobel Prize winner). Education is also recognised to be one of the most important factors associated with poverty reduction.

With full scholarships, disadvantaged students can continue their secondary education within East Timor. With completed education, these young people have equal opportunity in terms of seeking employment and further training.

These scholarships are offered to those who have completed year 9, are keen to study and have no other means of completing their education. Each scholarship supports the fees and basic living expenses for the final 3 years of secondary school (year 10 - 12)

These scholarships are a powerful means of supporting education and the future of East Timor. Aside from supporting the education of disadvantaged young people in East Timor, they also support schools in East Timor. All fees paid at East Timorese schools fund wages for East Timorese teachers and support the further development of these schools.

Linking students from remote areas with schools in larger cities within East Timor is powerful in itself. Areas such as Lolotoe and Fohorem will always be geographically remote, however they will not remain isolated. Sr Joana, the Principal of Santa Maria Mazzarello college in Venilale (Baucau district) was excited at the prospect of having students from Lolotoe study at the college. In her own words: ‘We haven’t had any students from near the border region of Timor- It surely will be an enriching experience for the college’.

scholarship - selection process

The scholarships are designed to support those with a strong desire and demonstrated ability to continue their education. They are also aimed at those who have no financial means to complete their education.

Vonnie Brown, ETEF project manager, has been working in Lolotoe for the past 3 years in the junior high school. Students who have shown aptitude, are keen to continue education and come from a poor family are offered a scholarship. In Fohorem, Fr John Vianey (parish priest and community figure), in consultation with local teachers, identifies scholarship candidates.

All students granted a scholarship will have to meet the entrance requirements, such as entrance exams and interviews, set by each college.

scholarship - school selection

With the restoration of a number of schools across East Timor, there are several options for continuing education. There are large schools in Maliana and Dili which run academic programs and prepare students for further study at a tertiary level. There are also excellent vocational colleges and technical colleges throughout East Timor. At Venilalae for example (A girl’s vocational school in Baucau), students learn languages, business skills, traditional crafts, basic sciences and mathematics. Past students of Venilale have secured employment or progressed on to further education such as teaching at the teacher’s college,

current scholarships (2003 – 2006)

The first group of scholarships commenced in 2003; there are 26 in total. There are a number of different schools students are completing their schooling at

- Venilale SMKK, Baucau 10

- Maliana Collegia (Catholic college), 6

- SMA Maliana (academic college), 2

- Maliana agriculture school, 1

- St Mary’s, Suai, 2

- STM Dili technical, 1

- SMA 10 December, Dili (academic), 2

- St Peter’s college, Dili (academic), 2

proposed scholarships (2004 – 2007)

A second group of scholarships will be offered in 2004. In addition to Lolotoe, scholarships are also offered to students in Fohorem.

Lolotoe (16 proposed scholarships)

o 6 girls to apply to Venalilale

o 6 boys to apply to schools in Dili, Maliana or Suai

o 4 students to apply to Jesuit college

Fohorem (12 proposed scholarships)

o 6 girls to apply to Venalilae

o 6 boys to apply to Suai, Dili or Maliana

scholarship costing – Venalilae (an example)

Scholarships are approximated at $500 Australian per student per annum

Total scholarship value AUS$1500 for completion of secondary education

Costing (In US dollars)

o fees $190 p.a.

o Uniforms $20 p.a.

o Living allowance $120 p.a.

o Travel allowance $ 20 p.a.

Total $350 p.a.

~ AUS$ 500 p.a. (exchange 0.7)

These scholarships were previously costed at AUS$400. Since then, school fees have risen and we have also provided a larger living allowance which covers basic needs. An estimate of $500 per annum per student is a more realistic costing for the scholarship and represents what has been spent on each student.

getting involved

It is possible to support a student for one year or their entire education (three years). There are no administration fees and all funds directly support the education and future of these young people.