Photo credit: Lisan Ferguson 

For your diary:

Trivia Quiz fundraiser 2024 

We apologise for the disappointment caused by the cancelation of the 2023 Trivia Quiz fundraiser for the Aileu University Scholarship Program.

The Trivia Quiz, our most anticipated annual event, has been re-scheduled and will return to the iconic Brunswick Town Hall, in early May 2024.

Look out for confirmation of the date and more details in the New Year.

Aileu Friendship Commission and Friends of Aileu Community Committee

The Aileu Friendship Commission, is a committee of community and non-government organisation representatives, brought together by the the Aileu Municipal Administration.

The Merri-bek - Hume Friends of Aileu Community Committee is a working group of Council and partner organisation representatives and community members.

They 2 committees complement each other, meeting regularly to discuss issues of friendship and cooperation, share information, identify priorities and monitor projects that receive support through the friendship relationship.

The Aileu Friendship Commission met in August and September to begin preparations for the Friends of Aileu - Merri-bek - Hume delegation in October.

Photo credit: Fidelis Walter

Aileu celebrates its 50^th anniversary

In July, Aileu marked 50 years of existence as distinct local entity, having been separated from the District of Dili on 1 July 1973.

The people of Aileu gathered for a week-long celebration of local identity and culture with the theme 'Coming together to build and strengthen Aileu for future'.

Activities included the 18^th Aileu Expo coordinated by the Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC), cultural, sports and civic events and traditional and contemporary music and performances.

Friends of Aileu provided $3,000 to support the 50^th anniversary celebrations on top of the $4,000 previously provided to the ARTC for the Aileu Expo. 

We had not previously budgeted for the additional $3,000 and are asking for donations to help cover that amount.  Any donations will help us meet ongoing commitments due in early 2024, including support for the Aileu Friendship Commission. 

If you wish to contribute you may do so to the GoFundMe campaign via the Donate Button below.

Aileu University Scholarship Program

This year, Friends of Aileu is paying the tuition fees of 20 students at universities in Dili. 

10 of these students are currently completing the 4^th year of study for Bachelor Degrees.  In this newsletter, we feature two who are studying at the Institute of Business.

Above, Eva Paulina Cuca (centre in blue jacket) holds her completed monograph in Information and Communication Technology (July).

At left, Joaquina De Fatima with her mother Rita Fatima Mendonca, after passing the Judicium for her studies in Tourism (September).

Best wishes to Eva, Joaquina and all the scholarship students as they work towards completion of their studies for 2023.

Teacher Training Scholarships

This year, Friends of Aileu is paying the tuition fees of 7 students at Baucau Teachers College (the Catholic Institute for Teacher Education or ICFP). 

3 of these students, Zeferino, Maria Ratu and Alarico, completed internships with Aileu schools earlier this year and are on track to finish the 4^th year of study for a Bachelor of Education (Licentiate Degree).

At left is Alarico Matus at home with his mother Rosita and father Matos Mau-Quinta.

All these students have achieved good results, including several Credits and Distinctions.

Of the other 4 students, Zacharias is expected to complete his 3^rd year of study for a Bachelor of Teaching, while Aniceto and Angela are in Year 2 and Luisa is in Year 1.

At left is Jose Valente, Aileu Friendship Commission Secretary, meeting with scholarship students Maria Ratu, Aniceto and Angela, and two other ICFP students from Aileu, Zeferina and Diana in May.  The students agreed to form an informal support network, with Aniceto as the contact person.

Aileu PermaYouth Camp 2023 inspires and engages a new generation

Many of the community leaders and young people who took part in the June 2023  Aileu PermaYouth Camp at Talabala, Aldeia Lerolisa, Suku Acumau, Remexio, have made a strong start on applying what they learned in their home villages.

Quoting Abilio de Araujo, Aileu Anan Association (AILA) President:

"As the follow up to the Aileu PermaYouth Camp, the young people who have learnt so much in the camp, are implementing their action plans for water conservation activities, organized by them along with community leaders, young people and community members, digging small ponds for water catchment during the rainy season.

These activities were conducted in the villages of Lequitura, Fatubossa and Seloi-Kraik in Aileu Vila and Faturilau, Asubilitoho and Namoleso in Lequidoe.

The field practices were facilitated by Permatil, AILA and KEUMA (the Aileu University Students Association) and financed by the Friends of Aileu and other donors through Permatil.

There are already more than 30 small ponds, and the plan is to continue this work in the other villages in Aileu-Vila and Lequidoe.

More to come!" .......including about the exciting development of a permaculture training centre at the Talabala site.

Aileu Resource and Training Centre ICT Course accreditation

The Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC) is a pioneer of ICT training in Aileu, with Friends of Aileu having supported these courses for many years.

In September, the ARTC received a visit from an assessment team from INDMO (the National Institute of Workforce Development).

The INDMO team observed the ARTC's computer training course in action and assessed the organisation and its ICT course materials for licence accreditation.

Messages of friendship

In the video to the left, Councillor Angelica Panopoulos, Merri-bek City Council Mayor, and Councillor Joseph Haweil, Hume City Mayor, talk about how the Friends of Aileu supports the people of Timor-Leste.

Anne Jungwirth and Chico Dos Santos, volunteer members of The Friends of Aileu Community Committee, share some of what our friendship relationship with Aileu means to them.

The Land Where We First See The Sun

The video to the left, 'The Land Where We First See The Sun', celebrates traditional East Timorese dance, drumming and cultural story-telling.

This collective art project, a collaboration between Timor Oan Sira and the Little Projector Company, was produced with the support of Merri-bek City Council and guidance from Jose Pires and Paulo Almeida.

The video was screened as one of a series of projection pieces for the community activation of a new park at 260 Sydney Road, Brunswick opposite the Brunswick Town Hall.