Students support Timor-Leste youth

ORGANISED by children for children, Ballarat Grammar Junior School’s annual market day has been held for decades in support of people in need.

The annual Bina Day event is a fundraiser for Ryder-Cheshire Australia, a volunteer-run aid charity which provides financial support and volunteers to homes in Timor-Leste and northern India.

Ryder-Cheshire Australia Ballarat Support Group sponsorship secretary, Dorothy Carpenter, said the students’ fundraising, including a record $11,300 at the last market, has made improvements possible at Klibur Domin in Timor-Leste.

“Garton Cottage is a part of Klibur Domin,” Ms Carpenter said. “It provides accommodation and support for 10 young people with disabilities to enable them to complete high school.

“Last year, Ballarat Grammar made an extra-large donation to support the students at Garton Cottage and provide some special needs for the 10 students. This donation has now enabled the completion of several projects.

“Up until now, drinking water was not available in the Cottage. The students had to walk quite a long way to fill containers with filtered water and carry them back.

“Now, clean drinking water is connected to the cottage, and wardrobes have been installed so all students have somewhere to store their possessions.”

A recently built deck at the back of Garton Cottage has also created a shady space for the young people to relax.

“All these improvements were made possible by the kindness and generosity of the staff and students at Ballarat Grammar Junior School,” Ms Carpenter said.

Ryder-Cheshire Australia established Klibur Domin, meaning ‘sharing with love’ in Tetum, 23 years ago after Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia.