Cooperation with Parishes, groups and individuals in

Australia and beyond helps to support Timorese students

to undertake further education and training.

Mary MacKillop East Timor supports 50 University students in Timor-Leste. We call this program "Buka Matenek", ("Seek Wisdom" in Tetun).

Susan and a student in 2002

Some of our Buka Matenek students havd not returned to University because of the turmoil in Timor-Leste but the number who did return and who tried to continue their courses was surprising. On 21 February we had a meeting with seventeen students who found it possible to attend. Our staff members António de Padua and Maria dos Santos planned and conducted the sessions.

In the main part of the meeting students broke into two groups and discussed the effects of the situation on them and their studies.  Some were very angry and spoke passionately. 

Some of the "Buka Matenek" students

We help individuals in their musical development, as a consequence of the tour of NSW by the Timorese choir Anin Murak in November 2000. Collections of all types of songs are being made for use in classrooms, especially in early childhood education.