East Timor Immersion

Timor Leste Immersion 2018

I would like to thank the staff, students, families and community members who were involved in the Timor Leste Immersion for 2018. Your contributions to the communities of Aileu and Lequidoe were remarkable and the memories made will have a deep effect on many people’s lives.

The outline of the Timor Leste Immersion involved a visit to Dili’s Asian Development Bank where the members are working with the government on infrastructure, skills-training, private sector development and regional cooperation. Students heard of the statistics about the number of students who are attending school, issues surrounding maternal health and employment figures.

A visit to the Chega (former) Prison in Dili gave students an insight into the history of Timor Leste and this is where the results of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) process are, documenting human rights abuses from 1974 to 1999. Reading through the stories of the Timorese people and seeing the prison cells put into perspective the atrocities the people endured.

The groups separated and made their way to Aileu and Lequidoe – the students in Aileu visited the clinic and had a tour of the work that is conducted there, such as maternal health education, the mobile clinic and programs for people with a disability.

There were many excellent lessons taught in the high schools in both communities with a variety of English, Psychology, Physics and Chemistry activities prepared for the Timorese students who responded in a very excited manner to alternative ways of learning.

Students participated in many ceremonial activities ranging from attendance at Mass and the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. Feedback from the group was positive and they understood the importance of standing in solidarity.

The home visits were an aspect of the immersion that had students buzzing about their experience and many stories were shared about the generosity of the Timorese people who allowed visitors into their homes.

When the groups gathered back together, a retreat was held where we examined each of the Catholic Social Teachings and reflected on what evidence we saw of each during our time in Timor. The CST’s were also the focus of our nightly discussions to encourage students to further think about the experiences they had.

The Year 11 students involved in the Immersion this year will be sharing their reflections and experiences in more detail in the newsletters to come and if you see them around school or the community, ask questions about what they learnt as they have many insightful details to share.

Thank you to the following staff who were a part of this year’s Immersion:

Glenn Roberts, Alma Simmonds, Mary-Ann Tonini, Michelle Anderson and Matthew Hinks. Thank you to Ged Ryan who assisted greatly with the organisation of the immersion and weekend preparation sessions.

Kristen Watson,

School of Culture Learning Leader

Student Reflection by Hamish Thomson

It’s incredible how much of an impact only twelve days has had on my life. Before the Immersion, thoughts around my future revolved around how I can best enable myself to enjoy my life. What I experienced in Timor, however, has made me think of ways in which I can not only provide myself with opportunities to achieve my goals, but to help others do the same.

One of the most valuable lessons I have taken from my experience in Timor-Leste, is how much of a difference a small gesture can make. Whether it be people in the street smiling and saying hello, or the look on the kids’ faces when we joined them in a game of soccer, the positive impact we had on the people of Aileu and Lequidoe, and them on us, could be felt by everyone who participated in the Immersion.

My highlights of the Immersion include racing along the coastline in Dili after first arriving, hearing students’ incredible singing in a little school on the mountainside, teaching English at the schools in Aileu and Lequidoe, and the extremely confronting account of Aileu’s Youth Centre founder Jose from his childhood experiences during Indonesian occupation. My favourite of these many amazing experience would be the house visit with two students from St Pedro and St Paulo High School in Aileu, Lidonya and Brigida. Margaret and I were welcomed so graciously into Lindonya’s house, where he lived with his younger brother, sister, and parents. There they shared with us their family photos, stories, and gave us each a Tais as we left, and Brigida also gifted both of us a handmade necklace. I remember walking back to our accommodation with Margaret, both of us overwhelmed with how welcoming and generous they were.

My experiences in Timor will stay with me forever. I’m extremely grateful to my fellow students and our amazing teachers for making the experience as rewarding as it has been, and our drivers for getting us around safely and sharing with us their stories. Before the Immersion, I had fallen into the most common of traps - taking for granted the opportunities we have. The people we met in East Timor have opened my eyes to how fortunate I am to have such a high level of education, healthcare and employment opportunities at my fingertips.

By Hamish Thomson.

Student Reflection by Johanna Ritchie

From the very first day in Timor we were constantly greeted by happy smiling faces, everyone greeting you as you walked by and made our group feel instantly welcomed and included by the community.

Visiting the schools was one of the things that I enjoyed the most. Every school we visited had an official welcoming ceremony. It would involve speeches, the giving of Tais and usually a traditional dance or song. One thing that I fell in love with immediately was their infectious love and pride of their culture. They sang in one united voice no matter what the setting; be it while in church or at school, everyone was united and equal when they sang. The continuous pride and participation emphasised to me the things we’d learnt during our first day about Timor’s want for independence and how much they believe in and are grateful for democracy within their country.

Teaching in the classroom whilst at times daunting was great fun. I will never forget the joy, attention and interest on every kid’s face, they came prepared and ready to take in every word you said and thrived on the chance to learn new things. Education was the key and tool to success and not one child took that for granted.

Having our drivers was such an integral part of the experience. They were so kind and generous, they showed tremendous courage when they shared their personal stories with us and made us feel very safe.

An important part of Timor was learning about the sad and devastating history of the people. We did many activities around this including visiting a memorial, going to the Peace House in Alieu and getting a guided tour from Jose who was only 14 when he experienced war and loss at the hands of the Indonesians. His message of forgiveness was so strong and inspiring as he recounted the atrocities he experienced firsthand and how he has moved on and been able to forgive.

A common recurring theme everywhere we went was people’s apology for not having anything grand to give us but only a small token of their appreciation. Through my eyes they  had and allowed us into their community and to be part of their family. I absolutely loved the experience and would highly recommend it for anyone with a passion for social justice.

By Johanna Ritchie.

Student Reflection by Miranda Cox

After my challenging yet fun and exciting 14 days in Timor I have learnt a lot and grown as an individual. Whilst in Timor we attempt to walk in the shoes of those around us and immerse ourselves in their culture and everyday life.

During my time in Timor I realised how much of an impact a single action can make, no matter how small it is. I watched as the ripple effect of my actions and the actions of those around me spread around to influence every individual, making them smile and laugh. You never realise the impact that you have or can have on an individual until you take a step back and watch as the joy you helped create spreads.

Every day of the Immersion had its own memories but one of my favourite would be braiding a little girl’s hair while we waited in the town streets for the Bishop to arrive in Aileu. She was fascinated with how long my hair was in braids and she was so excited to have me do her hair for her. Another favourite memory of mine would be teaching about the brain in the secondary classrooms in Aileu. I was amazed at how fast they had picked up the lesson I had planned and the way they were so eager to learn. Many of the students were taking notes of what I was teaching without any instructions to do so. It really shows how passionate the students are to learn.

Overall my time in Timor was a memorable experience that I will cherish forever.

By Miranda Cox.