Providing opportunity for students

Providing opportunity for students Tenison Woods College & Ryder-Cheshire join forces in Timor-Leste Tenison Woods College students recently presented Ryder-Cheshire Australia with a cheque for $1000 to be spent on computers for students in Timor-Leste.

Tenison College immersion co-ordinator Bernadette Fisher was made aware of the need for technology resources for disadvantaged students in Timor and Tenison students were excited to help by donating money raised from the Charity Ball and Charity Day to purchase computers.

The Ryder-Cheshire sponsored home Klibur Domin, meaning Sharing with Love in local language Tetun, although predominantly engaged in the detection and treatment of TB patients, also houses some 11 high school disability students.

Ryder-Cheshire Australia Klibur Domin liaison officer John Kirby (pictured above right during his visit), who recently visited the home, said they provide full board and pay school fees for these students, who would otherwise have been denied an education, to attend the adjacent Immaculate Heart of Mary High School. Once transferred to Klibur Domin, in the village of Tibar Mr Kirby was able to acquire three refurbished computers and present them.

“With the help of fellow volunteer and Rotarian Andrew Seabrook (pictured above left with computing students) from Casterton we struck up a great working relationship with local family owned technology firm “Inovar4”, who provided three re-furbished laptop computers at cost. The computers are to be shared between the disability students at Klibur Domin, and the girl boarders at the convent,” Mr Kirby said.

It wasn’t long before the students took up Mr Seabrook’s offer to join a Computers 101 familiarisation session. The students living at Klibur Domin have a range of physical disabilities and are extremely appreciative of their ability to attend school nearby, which is a bonus for those with restricting mobility issues. “They love practising their English when visiting volunteers pass by,” Mr Kirby said. Tenison Woods College, who has a long standing association with Timor-Leste through its immersion program, is looking forward to see firsthand what their latest fundraising has been able to achieve for the Ryder-Cheshire project.

“We are super keen to return to Timor post-COVID and look forward to developing a relationship with the Ryder-Cheshire home and visiting in person,” Mrs Fisher said. “I am also excited to explore the possibility of post school visits for students with Mr Kirby and look forward to supporting another Timor community as well as our sister school in Hatolia, the Dominican Orphanage and the Bakhita Centre.”