Contributing to Formal and Non Formal Education

Formal Education

Many Friendship Agreements already contribute to building the educational capacity of people in Timor

Friendship Agreements fund

• tertiary scholarships
• secondary scholarships
• provide text books and equipment
• refurbish schools, and
• build pre-schools

Some groups have discovered that the people funded to come to Australia to study do not return to their district upon completion of those studies and so the resources are somewhat dispersed. In order to ensure that the skills, that the scholarship holder learns, are transferred back to the community, some Friendship Agreements have introduced the idea of BONDED SCHOLARSHIPS. These scholarship are given with the understanding that when the scholarship holder has completed his or her education they return to the village/district for a specified amount of time and work to share the skills that they have learnt with the rest of their local community.

Friendship Agreements also provide resources and personnel for adult educators to teach vocational and trade skills. For example the Baucau Buka Hatene runs classes in Sewing, English lessons, Computer Skills and Drama for woman and youth. The Suai Community Centre provides classes in computers, language training and other skills development.