The year 11 students worked alongside Teachers 4 Timor educators teaching English to final year students over five days in June.

It was the first time the students had travelled to the country. The trip gave the students the opportunity to live and work with other young people in Ainaro Village.

“For me, I didn’t know anything about East Timor so it appealed to me. It was an opportunity to learn something new,” student Ethan Cavanagh said.

“It was a lot less constructed. Everything here is really organised and systematic.”

But Ethan said the Timor people were proud of their country.

“They are proud of how far they have come and everything they have,” he said.

Student Ruby Gedye said the group visited a local hospital, which was an eye-opener.

“It was interesting to see how far behind their facilities were. The main health issues there were tuberculosis and malaria. There was only one person in the district who could diagnose the diseases and they were using a microscope the same as we use at school,” Ruby said.

“I keep telling people it’s a developing country. It has been independent since 1999. It has the potential to be such a great country.”

The students were so touched by what they experienced in Timor that they are working on two projects.

Student Tun Nguyen said the Days for Girls project would collect and donate sanitary products for girls.

“When the Timor girls menstruate they don’t go to school. The country is not open to female menstruation and they don’t have the sanitary products,” Tun said.

“We are collecting soaps and sanitary products for them.”

The second project involves a book which will be made over the year and presented to the people in the Ainaro Village.

Student Nathan Hanson said the book would include photos of school life in Australia and East Timor, with descriptions in English and Tetun.

“We will have it ready for the next group that goes to East Timor,” Nathan said.

Ballarat Grammar headmaster Stephen Higgs, who went on the trip with two other staff members, said it was a life-changing experience for the students.

“We believe that Grammar students, engaged in the world like this, will make the world a better place for the future generations,” Mr Higgs said. 

The students were also involved in the Arte Ramelau program for indigenous art development.