Jino has reported today that further progress has been made on the kindergarten building with the inside wall plastering being finished and the boys have also started the floor. We have also received the plaque, thanks to Nick Locke for his help. I will be carrying this over with me for my forthcoming visit to Timor Leste.

I will be visiting the village viewing our projects up close  and catching up with the community members, Jino and our scholarship recipient Teodora Da Costa Alves.

Exciting progress has been made on our kindergarten project in Bei Cala, Timor Leste. The roof has been added along with the  door and window frames and the interior has been plastered. I have attached some photos of building of this process. We also have some award winners 2015. They are from left to right 

Jaimita Da costa, Manizia Emilia Doutel Sarmento, Anastacio Da Costa Rosario, Jorjinha Da Costa Bianco, Mildia  Da Costa lloue, Neibania F.M de F.M de Auxiladora.

Some additional news is the government of Timor Leste has built an additional buidling which is now being used by the secondary school. This is allowing the primary school to spread out and use the structure supplied by the Grub Club. I am very excited by my forthcoming visit in the April school holidays. I will be able to report on progress of the area and investigate further projects on behalf of the Grub Club. 

Below is the latest letter from JIno and manager in Timor Leste.

Boa tarde Deb,

See the attached photos for Pre-School Project, the project has reached 80%. I am looking  to finish off the last 20% in 2 months’ time.

Materials that we need in short future,   

1. Windows sheets & Doors Sheets

2. Plywood for ceiling

3. We running out of sands (require for flooring ,Wall Plaster, Toilet, & Steps)

4. Paint (Please advise what color of paint would you like to suggest for the wall?)

5. Paint (Please advise what color of paint would you like to suggest for the ceiling?)

6. Roofing nails (More 15KG)

7. Ceiling roofing  (10KG)

8. Wickes Treated Roofing Batten

• Size 25X38X48MM Qty 25

• Size 25x50x36MM Qty 30

• Size 25x38x36MM Qty 30

 Also for your info, Pre-School is close to Primary School  with the distance between being only 60 meters. There was a cement green tank right in front of Pre-school building, I think in the future we can run a pipe from main tank direct to Pre-School’s toilet at the back.

Pre-School building is not far from Dad & Mum’s house we could walk in six minutes time. Pre-School building is also surrounded by community garden as you could see on the photos.

Community usually called me twice a week ask me to finish it soon therefore they could send their kids to study at pre-school.

All the boys are having a weeks off from today until we get all the materials than they start work again.

Thanks,

Adeus,

Jino Pereira

Earlier this year we were lucky enough to receive a donation from Upwey High School, Victoria. Here's what Sophie Beyerle, the student who engineered this donation, had to say:

My name is Sophie Beyerle and I am a year 12 student at Upwey High School, located in the Dandenong Ranges in south east. I am the Community leader for 2015 and I was in charge of organizing the schools ANZAC Ceremony in this centenary year. I found out about the Grub Club while researching charities for a free dress day, I wanted to hold a free dress day in the week leading up to ANZAC day in order to support either soldiers or the work they have done. I liked the idea of The Grub Club as it was a small charity working with schools in East Timor; it was not only supporting the work of our soldiers in Timor-Leste but also supporting education, something students often take for granted. The free dress day was held on the 24th of April and we managed to raise over $700 for the Grub Club which is most we have raised in a number of years. As a school we are very proud to be donating this money to The Grub Club and highly commend Debbie for her amazing work.

Thank you Sophie and thank you Upwey HS. Your donation will help us continue building the kindergarten in Bei Cala.

The Grub Club are going in a new direction and sponsoring a former student of Escola Pre-Secondaria Foho Ailico through a 5 year English Teacher University course. We are very proud to announce Teodora da Costa Alves as the successful candidate and wish him all the best. As part of the scholarship Teodora will be return to Bei Cala on completion of his degree and give three years teaching at the school. 

Teodora wrote in his application:

After finish off Commerce School I always remember I’ve known what I wanted to do with my life. English teacher has always been a passion of mine. Dedicating my life to improving the lives of others is very appealing to me. After finish off my Commerce School vocational in last four years, I plan on advancing to teacher training program to become a teacher. I believe this program will offer me valuable skills I am really glad to see Grub Club is willing to help me to realize my goal in the future.

Although I plan on practicing teach while I am up to second semester, I believe that

This will be helping community in Bei cala area to promote English language to all young generation; in hence everyone can have better communication with other.

In memory of Sgt Matthew Locke MG, I will ensure to put much effort on study, to make change in the future. 

Teodora will be attending the Universidade Oriental Timor Lorosa’e.