Overseas Partnerships

East Timor Partnership

In partnership with East Timorese people the Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies has, since 1994, and at the request of Bishop Belo established a curriculum with books and teachers' materials. These enable small children whose mother tongue is Tetun to become literate in their own language. More than 80 different sets of books have been produced and the teachers in many areas of East Timor have received in-service training for the use of these materials. This work continues, based in Dili but reaching to rural areas of the Dili Diocese.

From the Australian base at St Mary's, NSW, materials are prepared and support is carried out. A Tetun Choir has been assisted to develop a repertoire and has toured extensively in Australia. Young people who fled East Timor after the Dili Massacre of November 1993 have been of particular interest. Advocacy for these asylum seekers has broadened to the wider group of asylum seekers. The Sisters of St Joseph signed a public statement of their support of the East Timorese in Australia with whom they have worked for many years.