Karen and Martti Kankkunen (9570 Discovery Coast Rotary) Rotary Study Tour of Timor Leste went on a Rotary Study Tour of Timor Leste from 18th to 25th August, led by Darwin Rotarian, Ray Faunteroy. There were also two Rotarians from Tennant Creek from the Outback eClub, one from a Townsville club and one from a cattle station 2.5 hours west of Townsville, who is a member of eClub Latitude 38. It was an amazing well, busy but so interesting. We visited many of the projects that Rotary have been involved in there from District 9550 and in BALIBO, from Victorian clubs. I think the three most amazing projects we saw were:

1. Alola Textile Centre co-op, where women work creating beautiful textiles to earn money

2. Bilola Junior School, built by a global Grant from the district currently above us. They service a remote village between Balibo and Maliana, and have over 200 students prechool to Year 2, and one teacher. The teacher hasn't finished their training yet so continues studying every Friday. No school on Fridays. We delivered to them the Kits4kids we had assembled with the Rotaractors in Dili. They were so cute and thrilled.

3. In Maliana we spent the morning with the Bobanaro Rotaract Club. This town is a 5 hour rough drive from Dili. The rotaractors main project is teaching basic English to secondary students 2 hours in the evenings. They require a lot more short and training. They especially asked for Tetun to English dictionaries, and we funded 25 for them. They were amazing and resilient young adults.

Next year there will be two more study tours offered in August, one before and one after the Timor Leste Rotary and Rotaract Convention to be held 14th to 16th August 2020. I would urge any one interested and available to attend. Fascinating and wonderful people.