Projects
Timor Leste
ALEA Supports Teachers in Timor Leste, report by Jo Padgham
The Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA), an affiliate of IRA, and the Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) have supported literacy initiatives in East Timor/Timor Leste over the past few years. What began as a response to a closing plenary presentation by Kirsty Sword Gusmao, First Lady of Timor Leste, at the 2006 Darwin ALEA/AATE conference, developed and blossomed into a wonderful reality.
As a result of that Darwin conference Kirsty Sword Gusmao sought a translation of Mem Fox‘s picture book, Whoever You Are into the Tetum language of East Timor. Through the generosity of Mem Fox and various groups and sponsors in Australia and Timor Leste, 10,000 copies of the book have been published and on Tuesday, 13 January 2009, in Dili, with Mem Fox present, the Tetum version, Se De’it Mak O was launched. ALEA and AATE state and local councils generously donated money in 2007 for literacy initiatives coordinated by Kirsty Sword Gusmao’s Alola Foundation. In addition ALEA and AATE donated 300 children’s T-shirts printed with the words ‘Read to Me’ in Tetum: Favor Ida Lee Mai Ha’u. Over 120 children attended the launch and the youngest wore the T-shirts, communicating the important message about reading to children.
Jo Padgham representing ALEA National Council, attended the launch in Dili and later, along with Mem Fox, visited a number 
of schools in the Dili region to distribute the book. Mem delighted everyone with her dramatic reading, and while she read in English, every child’s face expressed full understanding of the message and the fun of reading. This book is the first major international picture book translated into Tetum, and in a country where resources are scarce and recent history has been so troubled, this book represents hope. The launch and local media coverage and importance placed on it by the Timor Leste Ministry of Education put children, reading and the importance of literacy at the centre, if even for a few days.
The Alola Foundation was established by Kirsty Sword Gusmao in 2001. The foundation is working hard and making a huge difference in many areas. Their newly established education section with a team of very talented Timorese teachers provides support to teachers across Dili and other regions in the country. ALEA is very proud to have been involved in supporting Alola and in our role in making this launch a great success. We will continue to give professional support to the Alola teachers. The lead educator for the Alola Foundation attended the 2009 Australian National ALEA/AATE conference in Hobart, Tasmania, supported by ALEA. She gave a presentation on their work in supporting teachers and children in East Timor.
Since the launch of Whoever You Are in the Tetum language, another Mem Fox book Hattie and the Fox has also been translated into the local language. Anyone who would like to know more can visit the Alola website www.alolafoundation.org or contact Jo Padgham on jopadgham@home.netspeed.com.au.