Eight staff members from St Paul's Anglican Grammar School recently travelled to Timor-Leste to continue the school's longstanding collaboration with local communities - a first-time trip for some.
In the districts of Ermera and Bobonaro, they visited towns and villages, always greeted with waves and smiles against a backdrop of beautiful scenery.
At Ponilala Secondary School, built in 2006-07 with partial funding from St Paul's, they received a warm welcome of music and dancing, and were presented with a tais, a traditional weaving made by the women of Timor-Leste.
They also spent time at the Malimea English Language Study Centre (ELSC), established in 2023 through fundraising and ongoing support from St Paul's Team Timor and the Friends of Ermera.
During the visit, the next stage of the English Language Program also was delivered to ELSC staff as a continuation of the program previously introduced by St Paul's staff in 2023.
The experience reaffirmed the school's enduring connection with the people of Timor-Leste, a relationship that has spanned more than 20 years.