Education in Action: Marist Efforts Transforming Young Lives in Timor-Leste, Writes Milika Nation of AMS
- maristbrothers
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
In August, Milika Nation, Communications and Engagement Coordinator for Australian Marist Solidarity, visited Timor-Leste. Her time there revealed the remarkable strides the Marist family is making to ensure that education is accessible to the nation’s young and vibrant population.
She writes that her visit was not only an opportunity to witness this progress firsthand, but also a deeply moving experience - offering powerful insights and learnings she has carried back with her. Read more:
In August, I had the privilege of travelling to Timor-Leste on a Programs and Communications visit. Having done my own research on the country before arriving, it was clear from the outset that Timor was a vibrant nation, still reeling from what locals refer to as the “troubled times.”
Drawing similarities with my own country, Solomon Islands, it was hard to ignore the signs of a place still rebuilding from the ground up. Yet the hospitality and friendliness of its people often masked the “development” markers that revealed just how much work still needed to be done.
Arriving a little past 3 pm in Dili, the capital, I then made the 2.5-hour journey to Baucau along winding roads, with the sun setting over the coastline. The warm breeze and sweeping ocean views created a sense of calm and presence on these foreign shores. It felt like a perfect omen for what became a wonderful seven days in Timor-Leste.
The visit included time with our AMS project partners: KATILOSA, ICFP (Instituto Católico para Formação de Professores), and Marist College Lautem. Each institution stands as a testament to what can be achieved when people, guided by service and care, come together for a common purpose.
KATILOSA provides vital support to young people living with disabilities; ICFP continues to form the future educators of Timor-Leste, many of whom now work across AMS projects; and Marist College Lautem proudly carries the title of the first Marist College in the country. Since the Marist Brothers were invited by the Diocese of Baucau to establish ICFP 25 years ago, there has been much to celebrate when it comes to the Marist contribution to education in Timor-Leste.
Of all the inspiring partners we visited, one project resonated with me most deeply: Uai-Aca Pre-School. On my first day, guided by AMS Program Manager Luci Sitanggang and AMS supporters Margie Beck and Sebas Santos, we set off to Uai-Aca Pre-School. This initiative was started by Mana Sara Ximenes, a former ICFP graduate who recognised the urgent need for early learning in her community, a stage of education so crucial to a child’s development.
When asked about the role ICFP played in her life, Mana Sara spoke through tears. She shared how, at one point, she almost abandoned her studies because of homesickness. If it were not for the encouragement and love shown by Mana Margie Beck, former Deputy Director of ICFP, she would have returned home. Her voice caught as she recalled how her education gave her the confidence and drive to return to her community and share her skills.
Today, Mana Sara proudly reports that her students transition to Mulia Primary School (next door) with confidence and ease in their learning journey.
During our visit, the children stood to introduce themselves and declare their dreams: “I want to be a doctor.” “I want to be a policeman.” They delighted us with their numeracy, counting from one to ten in Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian Bahasa, and English.
After introductions, the children sat down for lunch: a bowl of rice, vegetables, protein, and a boiled egg. Mana Sara explained that while the government provides school meals to the neighbouring primary school, once they learned of Uai-Aca Pre-School, they extended the program to her students as well.
Seeing how two simple classrooms can nurture a child’s potential and impact an entire community brought home to me St Marcellin’s legacy: his love of work, his devotion to education, and his belief in small acts of service that change lives. Our time in Timor-Leste reminded me of the far-reaching importance of our Marist mission. It is alive in the dedication of teachers, in the resilience of communities, and in the bright hopes of children for their future.
This International Literacy Day 2025, AMS is proud to highlight the importance of literacy amongst those within and beyond our communities. If you felt compelled by this article, please consider making a small donation to support programs like those in Timor-Leste to give children the opportunity to reach their brightest potential. With the generous contributions from our supporters, AMS is able to continue its mission and vision of providing education to those who would otherwise go without. Together, we bring hope.
By Milika Nation
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Australian Marist Solidarity
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