Adilson da Costa, Coordinator of AAE Committee in Dili
This year we are celebrating our 15th anniversary and are delighted with the great progress that each and every one of us has been able to make.
As a new state emerging from a long-standing conflict, Timor-Leste faced many critical challenges in the state-building process and had limited experience with institution-building and democratic self-governance. Historically, Timor-Leste was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years, came under temporary Australian and Japanese rule during World War II, and was under illegal Indonesian occupation for 24 years from 1975, as a result of which many civilians were killed, tortured or abducted by the Indonesian military.
Although Timor-Leste gained full independence in May 2002, the government still has to overcome serious social and economic problems such as unemployment, malnutrition and the provision of adequate basic services to the population in urban and rural areas. This includes investment in infrastructure facilities and systems to ensure good quality education, health facilities, water supply and other areas.
Our scholarship program Ajuda Atu Estuda, which was launched by Alfons Schabarum and other colleagues in mid-2009, is part of a solution for those who are unable to continue their studies at the various universities in Timor-Leste and is a response to the critical challenge mentioned above. Especially young Timorese who faced financial and economic challenges in their families found support.
More than one hundred of young Timorese have have benefited from this scholarship program and completed their studies. Most of them have found a job and are working in numerous of government agencies, INGOs, Civil Society organizations and as researchers or lecturers at a university.
As one of the first beneficiaries and as the local coordinator, I hope that we will continue to move forward and use the value of solidarity to uplift people who need our hands. Once again, I would like to thank our friends of Solidarity in Germany for their generosity, kindness and support. We will keep them in our memories. And of course, all students pray that our friends in Germany will continue to keep this AAE scholarship program alive with their support.
Happy Christmas to you all!
Lucinda Francisca Freitas Esteves. Student at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), Second Semester
l would like to thank the Ajuda-Atu-Estuda Scholarship Program Committee for giving me the opportunity to share a little bit about my life story.
21st of May 2024 is a very sad day for me and my family, because on that day my father passed away, and I felt very sad. My father was a simple man, who loved his children and was generous to everyone. The beautiful words that my father always said to me - until now I still remember- was, “I have to work hard, not to buy a fancy piece of clothing that you can show off to other people and being proud of, but to support you and give you a good education . I want you to be a good women and a successful person one day”. These simple words keep motivating me in my studies and my personal memories.
When my father left us, my life changed. I used to think a lot and cry at night, and my head was full of questions about how I can pay my school fees, how we can sustain our life because I am the eldest of four siblings in our family. My mother as a single parent can barely afford to pay for all our daily needs with food and other things.
First, I attended an English course at a training center in Becora, the place in Dili where I live. That was before my father left us. I had to pay a registration fee of 30 dollars for this course and then 12 dollars every month. When my father passed away, I had to pay for the course, but I had no money. I had to find a way to solve my problem and I will not depend on my mother because we were in a very difficult time and situation.
I heard from my colleagues that there was going to be a UNTL Faculty of Education graduation ceremony. I decided to look for flowers to sell to the people who would be attending the ceremony. And sure enough, people bought my flowers, so I had a grand total of 40 dollars. I was so happy with this amount of money that I got. I immediately went to pay my course fee for two months. But then the day came when the teacher reminded me that I still had to pay 36 dollars to be able to take the final exam. I had no money, and I was afraid to ask my mother.
I kept quiet for almost two weeks and didn't tell my mother about my course. At night I cried and thought a lot about my problems, and I prayed to God, expressing everything I was going through and asking God to help me and show me the way. Next day I was surprised because my uncle who works as seasonal worker in Australia suddenly called me and asked my ID card, he told me that he will send me some money. I had no idea about this miraculous moment, I did not expect God to answer my prayer. I finally used this money and paid for my course to take the exam.
The next challenge came when I wanted to enrol for my first semester at university. I didn't have enough money, and at that time I had to ask my mother, so she added the rest I needed to my own money, and finally I was able to enroll. I remember my mother's message to me: “Do well in school, because now we are alone, no one will support us, you have to work hard and study to become a successful person. Then you can support your four siblings again, because as your mother, I put hope on your shoulder”.
Finally, I am very happy and grateful for the rare opportunity to be supported by the AAE scholarship program. It means a lot to me and my family. If I wasn't lucky enough to receive this scholarship, I wouldn't know how to complete my studies. But there is still a long way to go and I hope that the program will last.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Mr. Alfons and the AAE committee and the many benefactors from Germany who make a great contribution and support us with their generosity and commitment. I hope that you will continue this program in the future, because many people here still need your hands.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
