Each One-year Technical Trade  Scholarship costs Aust $1,500. 

The fees at the Training College are over $900 as the students are in training from 9 to 5pm for 5 days a week. Fees includes lunch and all safety equipment including boots which are provided by the college. The scholarship allows for the daily cost of transport to and from the college on the outskirts of Dili. However, it doesn’t cover other living costs and students live with relatives and have to find other means of supplementing income, such as selling phone cards on the street. 

 

Americo de Fatima Pinheiro is aged 20 years and is studying Automotive Mechanics at Dom Bosco Training College in Dili in 2019. 

This is a one year course, and currently the only way to gain trades skills and qualifications, as Timor has no apprenticeship system and very few skilled trades people. 

Americo is the oldest of six children and has 3 brothers and 2 sisters. His parents separated about 3 years ago and his mother moved back to her parents’ village home. His father is still living in the family home but is not taking any financial responsibility for the children and consequently the children are spread around, living with various different relatives. 

Consequently, Americo had no financial support to be able to continue onto university when he graduated from High School two years ago. It is for these reasons that Americo has been selected by the Committee in Baguia to get a Technical Trade Scholarship to give him skills that will enable him to get a job or set up his own business. 

Under Timorese culture, if Americo has an income, then he will have an obligation to support his siblings’ education. One of his sisters is in Year 10 at the Government Baguia Senior High School, and we know that she is struggling to continue her schooling. 

 

(More about the Baguia Scholarships in future issues)