MANY THANKS....UPDATE ON ARUN'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Please check out the update about Arun's schooling, written by a great friend of mine;
Dear Friends and Family,
First and for most we will like to thank and update you for all the support and kindness you offered to Arun and his family.
On the 15th of Jan, 2014, we managed to enroll Arun to international school in Dili, Timor Leste.
Here is the story from the registration day.
We arranged an appointment with Arun’s family through our friends who speaks Indonesian one day before. The next day we arrived at the house before our appointment time and we were waiting for our friend to arrive. Whilst waiting for our friend we had such a funny and fascinating moment. The thing is none of us can speak or understand Indonesian except one of our friend who knows something like 15 words. On the other hand, they don’t understand English and the official language of Timor Leste, Tetun. We tried to communicate with the little Indo mixing it with basic English and gestures. It was really hard at the same time, funny when all of us trying to make sense out of our conversation which couldn’t really happen until our friend arrived at 11am. We both felt relieved at his arrival and started laughing.
The other interesting thing is our friend who speaks Indonesian doesn’t understand Australian accent so that Sara have to speak to one person and then our other friend explains in English and accent he can understand. Through this mechanism we started explaining everything to Arun’s family. We asked them if they have anything they want to clarify or ask. The first question was if possible for them to join the same school with their son, especially Arun’s mom insisted. It was so touching to see their eagerness. They explained that they have never been to school and don’t know how to read or write. Due to the political problem in their country they didn’t get proper school education. In addition to that they were worried if it is safe for their son to let him be at school alone.
After we explained everything we left their house all together to the school. We arrived at the school after about 15 minutes. Whilst we are paying for taxi fare, Arun and his family are already at registration office chatting with the officer at the reception who happen to speak Indonesian. We noticed how excited and happy they are. This moment made us more and more proud of our friends and family for making this magnificent and blessed opportunity to happen for this beautiful family. This was one of the touching and happy moments.
In the mean time, we managed to wrap up registration without any beaureucracy with the warm welcoming officer, since neither Arun nor his family have any identification. Then the officer took us around the school and introduced us to another beautiful woman, who introduced herself that she is going to be Arun’s teacher. She welcomed us and Arun. She explained again about the school and her class to all of us. Arun’s mom and dad asked a couple of question and she explained how she is going to run the class, what time it starts and how many students she had in the class. While we are having the conversation with Arun’s teacher, we saw Arun is already in classroom, sitting on one of the chair and counting numbers and alphabet. This put a big smile on our face and mostly on his family’s. Before the conversation with the teacher was finished Arun had run out of the classroom to play on the playground.
We finished registration and tour around 12: 15 pm then we left for Timor Plaza, the one and only plaza in Timor Leste, to get school items for Arun. We spread out the building to get Arun’s stuffs so that he can join his classmates in the afternoon. We assigned each other different duties and went on the search while Arun and his family are having lunch.
After stressful and exciting moment, we got everything together; the school bag, lunch box, his school break snacks, school text book copy and the like. We left Timor Plaza for school. We arrived at the classroom with excited 7 year old boy jumping next to us. He entered the classroom and start counting numbers and English alphabet without even noticing neither the other four children nor the teacher in the class.
Then we thanked the teacher and left the class. Arun’s families were so happy and decided to wait in the compound until he finished at 4:30 pm.
Two weeks on an Arun is still liking school, they tell us that he does not want to leave the classroom even after school is finished. Some kind volunteers have offered to teach Arun’s mum and dad English and another kind women will tutor Arun after school to assist with his homework.
They are currently looking for house around the school to avoid any inconvenience. Arun’s family has sent their gratitude and admiration for the support and kindness presented by everyone.
We are still raising the remaining funds for Arun. Please consider donating or asking a friend to.
Thanks!
Dear Friends and Family,
First and for most we will like to thank and update you for all the support and kindness you offered to Arun and his family.
On the 15th of Jan, 2014, we managed to enroll Arun to international school in Dili, Timor Leste.
Here is the story from the registration day.
We arranged an appointment with Arun’s family through our friends who speaks Indonesian one day before. The next day we arrived at the house before our appointment time and we were waiting for our friend to arrive. Whilst waiting for our friend we had such a funny and fascinating moment. The thing is none of us can speak or understand Indonesian except one of our friend who knows something like 15 words. On the other hand, they don’t understand English and the official language of Timor Leste, Tetun. We tried to communicate with the little Indo mixing it with basic English and gestures. It was really hard at the same time, funny when all of us trying to make sense out of our conversation which couldn’t really happen until our friend arrived at 11am. We both felt relieved at his arrival and started laughing.
The other interesting thing is our friend who speaks Indonesian doesn’t understand Australian accent so that Sara have to speak to one person and then our other friend explains in English and accent he can understand. Through this mechanism we started explaining everything to Arun’s family. We asked them if they have anything they want to clarify or ask. The first question was if possible for them to join the same school with their son, especially Arun’s mom insisted. It was so touching to see their eagerness. They explained that they have never been to school and don’t know how to read or write. Due to the political problem in their country they didn’t get proper school education. In addition to that they were worried if it is safe for their son to let him be at school alone.
After we explained everything we left their house all together to the school. We arrived at the school after about 15 minutes. Whilst we are paying for taxi fare, Arun and his family are already at registration office chatting with the officer at the reception who happen to speak Indonesian. We noticed how excited and happy they are. This moment made us more and more proud of our friends and family for making this magnificent and blessed opportunity to happen for this beautiful family. This was one of the touching and happy moments.
In the mean time, we managed to wrap up registration without any beaureucracy with the warm welcoming officer, since neither Arun nor his family have any identification. Then the officer took us around the school and introduced us to another beautiful woman, who introduced herself that she is going to be Arun’s teacher. She welcomed us and Arun. She explained again about the school and her class to all of us. Arun’s mom and dad asked a couple of question and she explained how she is going to run the class, what time it starts and how many students she had in the class. While we are having the conversation with Arun’s teacher, we saw Arun is already in classroom, sitting on one of the chair and counting numbers and alphabet. This put a big smile on our face and mostly on his family’s. Before the conversation with the teacher was finished Arun had run out of the classroom to play on the playground.
We finished registration and tour around 12: 15 pm then we left for Timor Plaza, the one and only plaza in Timor Leste, to get school items for Arun. We spread out the building to get Arun’s stuffs so that he can join his classmates in the afternoon. We assigned each other different duties and went on the search while Arun and his family are having lunch.
After stressful and exciting moment, we got everything together; the school bag, lunch box, his school break snacks, school text book copy and the like. We left Timor Plaza for school. We arrived at the classroom with excited 7 year old boy jumping next to us. He entered the classroom and start counting numbers and English alphabet without even noticing neither the other four children nor the teacher in the class.
Then we thanked the teacher and left the class. Arun’s families were so happy and decided to wait in the compound until he finished at 4:30 pm.
Two weeks on an Arun is still liking school, they tell us that he does not want to leave the classroom even after school is finished. Some kind volunteers have offered to teach Arun’s mum and dad English and another kind women will tutor Arun after school to assist with his homework.
They are currently looking for house around the school to avoid any inconvenience. Arun’s family has sent their gratitude and admiration for the support and kindness presented by everyone.
We are still raising the remaining funds for Arun. Please consider donating or asking a friend to.
Thanks!
TIMOR LESTE....
Timor-Leste is situated around 686km from Australia and remains one of the world’s newest nations. Despite being signatory to the Refugee Convention, the process of seeking asylum is problematic, with no working system to do so set up in the country. Timor Leste is one of Asia’s poorest nations and continues to struggle with high levels of poverty and weak infrastructure. Due to this there is limited to no mechanisms to support those seeking asylum, including legal assistance and basic living necessities. Timor Leste has small asylum seeker populations, who struggle to survive on a day to day basis and often face discrimination from authorities.
MEET ARUN....
Facing such challenges is Arun, a 7 year old boy who is living in Timor Leste with his family. Arun’s family has been stuck in Dili for 2 years now, unable to seek asylum. Of those 2 years Arun has never been to school.
THE PLAN....
We would like to send Arun to an English speaking school in Dili, whilst his family works out their plans for the future. He'll receive an education, plus be able to mix with other children and just be a child! An English speaking school has been chosen, as they are more likely to receive resettlement, if possible, in an English-speaking nation. The terms begins next month, December 2013.
THE COST....
Year Fees (including two months summer school): $3,300
School Admin Fee: $300
Text Books: $175
Graduation Fee: $100
Parents and Teachers Fee: $10
Total: $3,885
CAN YOU HELP....
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. If you can help out please electronically transfer money to the following account, with your name and followed by 'Arun'. I will personally respond with a confirmation that we have received it. Sorry there is no better system, it is difficult to cost-effectively transfer money to Timor Leste.
Bank: Commonwealth Bank.
BSB: 063 533
Account: 1015 2396
Sara M Webster.
If you can send me an email on [email protected] to let me know that you have donated I can contact you to confirm it has been received.
THANK YOU!!
Timor-Leste is situated around 686km from Australia and remains one of the world’s newest nations. Despite being signatory to the Refugee Convention, the process of seeking asylum is problematic, with no working system to do so set up in the country. Timor Leste is one of Asia’s poorest nations and continues to struggle with high levels of poverty and weak infrastructure. Due to this there is limited to no mechanisms to support those seeking asylum, including legal assistance and basic living necessities. Timor Leste has small asylum seeker populations, who struggle to survive on a day to day basis and often face discrimination from authorities.
MEET ARUN....
Facing such challenges is Arun, a 7 year old boy who is living in Timor Leste with his family. Arun’s family has been stuck in Dili for 2 years now, unable to seek asylum. Of those 2 years Arun has never been to school.
THE PLAN....
We would like to send Arun to an English speaking school in Dili, whilst his family works out their plans for the future. He'll receive an education, plus be able to mix with other children and just be a child! An English speaking school has been chosen, as they are more likely to receive resettlement, if possible, in an English-speaking nation. The terms begins next month, December 2013.
THE COST....
Year Fees (including two months summer school): $3,300
School Admin Fee: $300
Text Books: $175
Graduation Fee: $100
Parents and Teachers Fee: $10
Total: $3,885
CAN YOU HELP....
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. If you can help out please electronically transfer money to the following account, with your name and followed by 'Arun'. I will personally respond with a confirmation that we have received it. Sorry there is no better system, it is difficult to cost-effectively transfer money to Timor Leste.
Bank: Commonwealth Bank.
BSB: 063 533
Account: 1015 2396
Sara M Webster.
If you can send me an email on [email protected] to let me know that you have donated I can contact you to confirm it has been received.
THANK YOU!!