Everyone has the right to read.
In East Timor (Timor-Leste) 50% of the people are illiterate.
Mary MacKillop East Timor is working with the East Timorese people to address this problem. We have completed a comprehensive Tetun Literacy programme, Mai Hatene Tetun, comprising books and resources for children and teachers from Kindergarten to Grade Four. Books and resources for Years Five and Six are in progress.
A selection of books in the MMET programme Mai Hatene Tetun are included in the new school curriculum recently launched in Dili by the President, Mr José Ramos-Horta. Thousands of copies of these books have been printed by UNICEF and distributed to the 800 Government and Catholic Schools across the nation.
Using the Mary MacKillop reading books, teachers everywhere will be able to teach the process of reading using a language with which the children are familiar and concerning the environment, culture and issues which are part of the daily life of the society. Reading methods which use what is already known to the child are the methods which have the greatest success for the greatest number of children. Attempting to teach children without using what is familiar is doomed to fail.
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Having learnt to read, children need to develop the skill. More and more
books are needed in a society where very few books can be found. This
is where Sorry Wally fits in. Troy Mayne’s beautiful work, translated
into Tetun, will be a wonderful contribution to the education of Timorese
children. It features not only stunning photography which they can enjoy
but tells a gripping story of courage and friendship which teaches a powerful
lesson. We would all do well to live by Casey’s code.
If you would like to share the gift of reading with a Timorese child,
either buy a book or make a donation through the Mary MacKillop Literacy
Fund. All donations above $2 are tax deductible.
All donations to this fundraiser will go directly towards providing Tetun
language copies of Sorry Wally to the children of East Timor.
Troy with local kids in East Timor
For more information about the work of Mary MacKillop East Timor see www.mmiets.org.au
To Contribute to Sorry Wally Literacy Appeal download
the following pdf form.