Service and discovery in Timor-Leste

From the mountains of Ermera to the streets of Dili, St Paul's Anglican Grammar School students experienced the warmth, resilience and rich culture of Timor-Leste while seeing first-hand the difference that service and community partnerships can make.

The Timor-Leste service tour gave students the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and develop a deeper understanding of another culture and community, while witnessing the impact of St Paul's Team Timor initiatives across the Ermera district.

A key part of the journey was visiting the Ponilala Pre-Secondary School and the Malimea English Language Study Centre, where students met members of the local community and saw how ongoing support from St Paul's is helping create educational opportunities for young people.

Travelling through Dili, Gleno, Letefoho, Malabe, Malimea and Balibo, students experienced the beauty of Timor-Leste's landscape and the everyday lives of the communities they visited. Along the way, they developed a greater appreciation of the opportunities and challenges experienced by people living in the region.

The eight-day journey also encouraged students to look beyond being visitors.

Through conversations, shared experiences and connections with local communities, they gained a deeper understanding of the importance of relationships, respect and sustainable service.

As a co-curricular service-learning experience, the tour encouraged students to put St Paul's values of compassion and respect into action. It was an opportunity to learn from others, broaden their perspectives and return home with a greater understanding of how even small acts of service can contribute to meaningful change.

Left: The group of students from St Paul's Warragul and Traralgon campuses at Balibo including (left, top to bottom) Layla Graham, Isabelle Mills, Ruby Farmer and Poppy Cann, (right, top to bottom) Tharuja Vidanapathirana, Rhys Smyth and Lucy Owen.