Literacy Program

So many children in Soibada are learning to read and write.  They are such keen learners but the schools are very under resourced with very little reading material available.  One project that we are delighted to have underway is our literacy program.  The program was instigated by Jen Cincotta, one of our members who is a dedicated teacher.  Working in conjunction with Mona Vale library, our goal is to put books into all the schools in Soibada.   The children speak Tetun (the local Timorese language) and Portuguese.  Their schooling is conducted in Portuguese.  Therefore all the books that we donate will be in their local languages.  We purchase the books in Dili and deliver them to the schools in Soibada during our regular visits to Timor Leste.  Eventually, we envisage that the program will extend into the  establishment of a Reading Room in the Village where people can come and read books and publications in their free time.

Mona Vale library ran a program to fund the purchase of books.   This program enabled our first purchase of hundreds of books that were delivered to Soibada in July.  

Mary Anderson is the Community Development Librarian who is co-ordinating the Soibada Literacy program at Mona Vale library.

Abut Timor

Abut Timor is an organisation in Dili, Timor Leste dedicated to supplying children's books in Tetun and Portuguese.  We use funds raised to purchase books from Abut Timor

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