Help Rui complete teacher training!
US$30
of $600 targetyrs ago
Closed on 14th Mar 2016 at 12:43AM.
A couple of years ago, I was working on a teacher development program in East Timor when I was lucky enough to meet Rui.
Rui was studying to become a teacher at the time, and he came to translate for the bunch of Australian teachers I was with. He wasn’t just a translator, though. After the first day, he was so enthusiastic about what we were doing that he asked if his classmates from Dili's university (UNDIL) could come and join our teachers, to learn more about how Australian teachers work. Of course we said yes, and we held a special session for them.
They were some of the most enthusiastic students you could imagine. They were so aware of what they were going into and how they were going to make a difference for the next generations of Timorese who would build the small country’s future.
Well, my friend Rui has just about finished his teaching degree. He has about a month to go, but at this stage, he can’t afford his final semester fees, or his graduation. How tragic would it be to get almost to the end of your degree and not be able to finish it off?
All he needs is $600 USD. Surely we can help him out with that, can’t we?
To understand why it's important that Rui finishes his degree, you need to understand a little about education in East Timor. East Timor has about 85% of their primary school-aged children enrolled in school. Student to teacher ratios are generally good for a developing country: the average is 30 students per teacher, which is quite close to standard ratios in developed countries. There is, however, a severe shortage of qualified teachers due to the departure of many teachers at the end of Indonesian rule, the sparsity of people who speak both Portuguese and Tetun, and the expense and time required to train new teachers. Can you imagine a school with unqualified teachers? In Australia it’s unheard of, but in East Timor it’s not that uncommon at all. Making sure all teachers make it through their courses is really important.
I’ll be really excited to see Rui graduate. He is going to make one very special teacher once he gets into the classroom, and he’ll make a big difference for this amazing developing country on Australia’s doorstep. So can you help? I’d love to be sending you a picture of Rui with his testamur next month!
Rui was studying to become a teacher at the time, and he came to translate for the bunch of Australian teachers I was with. He wasn’t just a translator, though. After the first day, he was so enthusiastic about what we were doing that he asked if his classmates from Dili's university (UNDIL) could come and join our teachers, to learn more about how Australian teachers work. Of course we said yes, and we held a special session for them.
They were some of the most enthusiastic students you could imagine. They were so aware of what they were going into and how they were going to make a difference for the next generations of Timorese who would build the small country’s future.
Well, my friend Rui has just about finished his teaching degree. He has about a month to go, but at this stage, he can’t afford his final semester fees, or his graduation. How tragic would it be to get almost to the end of your degree and not be able to finish it off?
All he needs is $600 USD. Surely we can help him out with that, can’t we?
To understand why it's important that Rui finishes his degree, you need to understand a little about education in East Timor. East Timor has about 85% of their primary school-aged children enrolled in school. Student to teacher ratios are generally good for a developing country: the average is 30 students per teacher, which is quite close to standard ratios in developed countries. There is, however, a severe shortage of qualified teachers due to the departure of many teachers at the end of Indonesian rule, the sparsity of people who speak both Portuguese and Tetun, and the expense and time required to train new teachers. Can you imagine a school with unqualified teachers? In Australia it’s unheard of, but in East Timor it’s not that uncommon at all. Making sure all teachers make it through their courses is really important.
I’ll be really excited to see Rui graduate. He is going to make one very special teacher once he gets into the classroom, and he’ll make a big difference for this amazing developing country on Australia’s doorstep. So can you help? I’d love to be sending you a picture of Rui with his testamur next month!
How The Funds Will Be Used
What Rui needs is just a few hundred dollars. $200 to pay for his final semester at UNTL, and $300 for the graduation. Because there are costs involved in converting the currency to US dollars (East Timor uses USD as their local currency) and processing payments through Pozible, I have set the goal at $600, and any excess will go directly to this new teacher.
The Challenges
The only possible obstacle here is the weak Australian dollar, and so I have set the goal a little above what is absolutely necessary to ensure Rui is able to graduate.
Hand Crafted Tais
When welcoming people into their community, the Timorese place a tais over their shoulders. It is a symbol of unity, and a way of expressing gratitude. For all contributions over $100 USD, Rui will send a handcrafted tais back from Dili to thank you.
0 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is May 16