The Order of Malta’s Creating Leaders Scholarship Program is helping young people in Timor-Leste continue their education and build a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities.

This year, Confrère Sean Parnell has taken over management of the program. In September, Sean travelled to Timor-Leste with Consoeur Dr Nicole Johnson to visit the schools and meet the students, teachers and school leaders involved in the program. They were joined by our volunteer, Jayden Gilbey, who lives and works in Timor-Leste.

The visit was entirely self-funded by Sean, Nicole and Jayden. We are deeply grateful for the time, service and personal financial commitment they made to visit the schools and see the impact of the program firsthand.

Meeting the students

At the Canossa School in Dili, Sean, Nicole and Jayden met with scholarship students and Sr Anastacia, who supports the students at the school (pictured top).

Each student gave a short presentation about their progress at school, what the scholarship means to them and their gratitude for the opportunity to continue their education.

It was a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the students about their experiences, aspirations and the difference the scholarship is making in their lives.

Sean described it as a privilege to see the program firsthand and meet the young people whose education is being made possible through the generosity of our donors.

Supporting education and opportunity

The Creating Leaders Scholarship Program currently supports 14 students across three schools in Timor-Leste.

This year, nine students will graduate, while three students will continue their studies through the program for a further three years. We are also offering two additional scholarships to deserving students who demonstrate academic potential but are at risk of being unable to complete their education without financial support.

These scholarships provide much more than assistance with school fees. They help cover the basic necessities that enable students to attend school and continue their education.

For some young people, this support can make the difference between completing their schooling and having to leave their education behind.

Timor-Leste is one of Australia’s closest neighbours, yet remains one of the world’s poorest nations. With a very young population and significant levels of poverty, access to education can be a powerful pathway towards greater opportunity and independence.

Seeing the difference firsthand

The team also visited Casait School, approximately 20 minutes outside Dili. With around 1,000 students enrolled, the school is a vibrant and busy learning environment.

Our visitors were particularly impressed by the confidence of the students, their ability to converse in English and, most importantly, their enthusiasm and commitment to their studies.

Meeting the students in person was a moving and humbling experience for Sean. He saw firsthand their determination and the opportunities that access to education can provide — not only for the students themselves, but also for their families and communities.

Helping more students continue their education

The need for scholarships remains significant.

At this stage, the program can commit to offering five scholarships next year, each for a minimum three-year period. However, the Sisters at the schools have advised that they could readily identify several other deserving students with the academic potential to benefit from a scholarship whose circumstances may prevent them from continuing their education.

Our ability to support these additional students is currently limited by the funds available to the program.

You can help change a young person’s future

For just $100 a month, you can help provide another deserving student with a scholarship and the opportunity to continue their education.

A commitment of $100 per month over three years can provide a young person with the stability and support they need to complete their schooling.

One-off gifts of any amount are also gratefully received and will help us extend the reach of this important program and support more students in the future.

Gifts of $2 and more are tax deductible for Australian taxpayers.

Looking ahead

Sean will return to Timor-Leste in December to congratulate the students who are graduating and to meet the new scholarship students and their families.

We look forward to sharing a further update following his visit, including more about the graduating students, the new scholarship recipients and the difference the Creating Leaders Scholarship Program is making in their lives.

We sincerely thank everyone who supports the Creating Leaders Scholarship Program. The generosity of our donors helps give young people the opportunity to continue their education, pursue their aspirations and build a better future.