Inauguration Ceremony for the new orphanage at Hera
On 29 April an Inauguration Ceremony was held for the opening of a new orphanage in Hera. The construction of the orphanage was funded by the Order of Malta and will be operated by the Dominican Sisters of Timor-Leste.
The ceremony was attended by the First lady of Timor-Leste, Srª Isabel Ferreira Ruak, Father Santiago Gonzalez OP and Members of the Order, Ambassador David Scarf AM and Confrere Collin Yap, who identified the project and raised the money to fund the build through Members of the Order in Singapore.
The orphanage will be home to 22 boys from the ages of 8 to 26 years. The new building is a stark contrast to their previous home on the same site – a zinc roofed dormitory with incomplete bathrooms and toilets and where the children slept two to a single sponge mattress on the floor.
Farming and crop growing were already underway at the site, providing the Orphanage with food security and developing practical skills amongst the children.
Without the Orphanage, it is likely that many of the children would be living on the street. Thankfully these children are able to finish high school, with some going on to University.
View our gallery of photos from the opening ceremony:
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- Outside of the orphanage
Other galleries:
Ground Breaking ceremony at orphanage in Hera
Project update. Pictures from the construction site (Jan 14)
Project update: Picture from the construction site as the orphaange nears completion
Learn more about our recent activities in Timor-Leste:
