Meet Joanina: our latest student to be sponsored through the Creating Leaders Scholarship program
Creating Leaders is an Order of Malta scholarship program in Timor-Leste. Like many developing countries, Timor-Leste has high levels of poverty and low national human development. Education is an important vehicle to employment, independence, social and political empowerment and consequently, national development. However, a cycle of poverty often creates barriers to the children’s participation in education.
The Scholarship supports underprivileged children to participate in formal continuing education.
Thanks to a generous donor, another child has been sponsored through the Creating Leaders Scholarship program.
Joanina with a ‘Thank you’ card she designed for her sponsor
Joanina is one of our youngest students. Her father passed away when she was only 2 years old and she lives with her eight siblings and mother who works as a gardener.
Joanina’s favourite subject at school is Portuguese (she speaks Tetum at home) and outside of school, she enjoys playing with her dolls and reading. Her favourite part of the Creating Leaders Scholarship is the Christmas celebration she has with her fellow scholarship students.
When Joanina is older she hopes to become a Nun so that she can assist those in need.
More about the Creating Leaders Scholarship program:
– The children eligible to scholarship will come from disadvantaged situations.
– Children who are nominated must demonstrate academic promise and enthusiasm
for their studies
– The children who are awarded scholarships are taught that it comes with a responsibility of “service to those they can
help”, according to the fundamental ethos of the Order of Malta.
– The scholarship provides not only the payment of school fees, but other assistance and support to help overcome barriers that might prevent the children’s participation in education eg. transport, meals. uniforms
Currently there are 15 children in Timor-Leste involved in the program.
Sponsoring a Child in the Creating Leaders Scholarship Program costs $70 a month.
If you would like to make a donation in support of this project you can do so using our secure Paypal donation facility using the button below, or email info@smom.org.au to learn how you can become a sponsor.
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