Mike Winkler

A quick update. Cristina has sent through some photos from the new school site at Palapasso, Dili. Cristina says they have engaged students, parents and staff members in a concerted clean-up campaign and are working on all aspects of making the new school site habitable with a view to shifting classes there within the next few months. Please note that Cristina is the taller woman in a white shirt. Her partner and school co-director Cesar is in the blue and white striped tshirt. Thank you.

Funding Proposal: St Anthony’s International School, Dili THE SCHOOL: St Anthony’s International School (SAIS) in Dili is a non-denominational independent school wholly managed and operated by Timorese, dedicated to providing education that will enable students to study, work and lead at an international level in the future. The school currently has an enrolment of 70 students from Playgroup to Year Six. Most students speak between two and four languages, but all instruction is in English – the international language of business and politics. The school uses a modified Australian curriculum. The philosophy underpinning SAIS is that young Timorese can only access higher learning in international universities if they are highly proficient in English. If Timor-Leste is going to develop its own doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business leaders rather than relying on support from outside the country, English language expertise is essential, and knowledge of the Australian curriculum is highly desirable. However, the Timor-Leste government only funds schools that teach in Tetum, not English, so SAIS operates without any government funding. “Our biggest aim as a school is to produce a leader for this country,” SAIS Director Cristina Yuri R. S. Costa says. “It is not about facilities and luxurious buildings, but good teachers working with children to give them a good education, building a great future. “Our kids are smart and talented like all kids, but they need the opportunity to get the best education possible. Most of our parents do not earn much, and our public schools do the best they can. However, as a human being, and as a mother of two kids, I want to make accessible the best education possible. I want to get our school to international standard. It is the most sustainable project you can think of, for the future of the people and the country. AUSTRALIAN CONNECTIONS: SAIS has been supported through membership of the Association of Independent Schools of the Northern Territory (AISNT) since 2016. SAIS is registered as an International School, and has a sister-school relationship with the St Andrew (Darwin) campus of Good Shepherd Lutheran College. “SAIS has become a very successful small school in Dili in a short time,” Gail Barker, AISNT Executive Director, says. “Their ultimate goal is to become an affordable independent school for children from Timor-Leste offering an international standard of education for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The very high demand for quality education in Dili is evident and I have no doubt that they will achieve their goals. I have been involved in education for a long time, and Cristina Costa is one of the most inspiring educational leaders I have met, supported by a very hard-working team dedicated to doing their very best for the children of Timor-Leste.” SCHOOL RELOCATION: Since it opened, SAIS has operated from a converted house in Bidau, Acadiruhun, Dili. The school is currently in the process of relocating to a neighbouring site, which is somewhat dilapidated but provides significantly more space. FUNDING PROJECTS: AISNT has discussed funding needs with Cristina Costa and the SAIS team. They have indicated that any funding would be hugely appreciated. Cristina said, “We leave it to the Commando association to decide which project they would like to fund, and we looking forward to work closely with you all in future.” 1). A scholarship program. Junior student, Year 1-3 US$1870 per year Senior student, Year 4-6 US$2250 per year The full scholarship covers: all tuition fees, workbooks, registration, and school uniform. 2). Build a new playground. Estimate US$5500-$6000, which includes all materials, equipment and labour. 3). Build/renovate a classroom The new school site will have six classrooms. Each classroom will cost US$5,000 which includes materials and labour. 2/2 COMMANDO ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: If the Association sees fit to fund any projects at SAIS, Cristina Costa and her team are eager to have this generosity acknowledged in any way that you see fit – through naming of scholarships, name plaques on school structures etc. There is also an open invitation for Association members to visit the school and meet the staff and students. SAIS acknowledges the magnificent work that the Second Second undertook on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste at a very difficult period of the nation’s history, and expresses enormous gratitude that members through the Association continue to show an interest in helping Timorese people. We thank you for the kind opportunity to put forward this funding submission. CONTACTS: Gail Barker, Executive Director, AISNT Gail.Barker@aisnt.asn.au or 0429 793 199 Cristina Costa, Director, St Anthony’s International School, Dili cristinacosta.mecae@gmail.com Mike Winkler, Communications Manager, AISNT mike@aisnt.asn.au

Hi Colleen, Many thanks for your generous donation. I will send you an email about a school visit - it is amazing to see them in action! All best to you and the 2/2, Mike

Enormous thanks to the 2/2 Committee member who just made a most generous donation. I have been in touch with Cristina and Cesar, and they want me to pass on their heartfelt gratitude. A reminder that if you are in Dili and would like to visit the school - to see a fine example of Timorese trying to take the next step towards a self-directed future - we can organise this for you. All best to all members of the 2/2, Mike Winkler (mike@aisnt.asn.au)

I work for an education organisation in the NT. For the past two years we have had a relationship with a new school in Dili, St Anthony’s International School (SAIS). SAIS was founded by Cristina Costa Ribeiro and Cesar Dias Quintas. Cristina works for TradeInvest and has an MBA from Charles Darwin Uni; Cesar was one of Xanana’s bodyguards in the late 80s and 1990s, and is the son of the Liurai of Los Palos who was killed in 1999. They are inspiring people. Their philosophy is that the only way forward for Timor-Leste is to develop young people capable of working at high level jobs – in politics, business, diplomacy, medicine, engineering etc – rather than relying forever on assistance from outside the nation. They believe that a prerequisite for this is high proficiency in English, so they have founded a school where all instruction is in English. As you probably know, the Timorese government only funds schools that teach in Tetum, so they have to fund this school themselves. To help support their work my organisation has established a GoFundMe: gf.me/u/gv4wzq I made a few short videos at the school last week that give some idea of who they are and what they are doing: https://youtu.be/vt6AyWrky2I https://youtu.be/uGqi5RIShGE https://youtu.be/-DQlIrMu06c If there is any financial support that the 2/2 can give this great school, they (and we) would of course be most grateful. If further information is required, I would be delighted to answer any queries. Mike Winkler - mike@aisnt.asn.au