Dear Order of Malta,

I am very happy to have received your email and to know that the Order of Malta continues to support Timorese students who need assistance.

As an alumni of the Creating Leaders Scholarship program, I am pleased to share my adventure since graduating from the program 7 years ago.

I am Maria José, a medical student at Nova Medical School – Faculdade de Ciências Médicas of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. I am currently in the 5th year of the 6-year course. Throughout the course, I learned a lot about a completely new universe, made new friends and went through several medical specialties that, together, shaped me and made me who I am today: a student completely passionate about medicine.

I am grateful to my family and all the entities that have supported me throughout my journey, from my time at school in Timor-Leste to my current academic career. And of course, one of these entities is the Order of Malta.

The Order of Malta offered me financial support for around 6 years when I attended the Escola Portuguesa de Díli in Timor-Leste. This support covered everything from monthly fees to school lunches and school materials. Not only that, the Order of Malta also sponsored my study visit to CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland, after my team was recognized with “High Praise award” by CERN after we competed for the “Beamline for Schools” competition in April 2017. The Order of Malta, once again, helped me achieve one of the dreams I had.

In September 2017, the Order of Malta also supported me on the Dili-Lisbon travel ticket to be able to start my study here in Portugal. In the summer of 2019, the Order of Malta also financed my round-trip ticket to Timor-Leste, to visit my family and volunteer at the Order of Malta Medical Clinic in Dili for 1 month. During this month, I managed to gain new experiences and learn about the reality regarding health in Dili. I learned new things that I probably won’t learn here in Portugal due to the difference in health facilities and endemic cases in the two countries.

In short, the Order of Malta contributed immensely to my studies and to my adventures and experiences that I have had so far.

If everything goes well, I will finish my studies and become a doctor next year. I thank the Order of Malta for the support offered during this process.

To the donors of the Creating Leaders Scholarship Program, I sincerely thank you for the support you have given and continue to give to the Timorese students who benefit from this support. In a way, you are giving wings to these students’ dreams and reassuring them that they too can dream and that their dreams will not remain just dreams. I hope you can continue to provide them with that little push they need.

To the Order of Malta, thank you for everything and I hope that you get all the support you need from all parties and that you continue to make the dreams of many Timorese students come true.

Sincerely,
Maria José 

The Creating Leaders scholarships provide not only the payment of school fees, but other assistance and support to help the children overcome barriers that might prevent their participation in education, such as transport, uniforms and meals.

A gift of as little as $100 a month could sponsor a child in the Creating Leaders Scholarship program.

Gifts of all sizes are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible for Australian taxpayers.

Guiding principles for the Creating Leaders scholarships:

• 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 will be awarded a scholarship will be taught that it comes with a responsibility of “service to those they can help”, according to the fundamental ethos of the Order of Malta.