2935 ITM New Maliana school
austraLasia #2935
 

Maliana, Timor Leste: “Finally, we have Salesians in our midst!”

DILI: 24 October 2011 -- Salesians have been working in Timor for more than 60 years. The name Salesian or Don Bosco perhaps is too big for an island as small as Timor. Indeed, Don Bosco is known throughout this tiny country, particularly for its technical institutes and superb contributions of many missionaries in different areas. However, the Salesian presences had been focused only in the eastern part of Timor Leste. But, on October 21, 2011, the Salesians officially ended this ‘constraint’ by establishing their new presence in Maliana, which is 149 Km southwest of Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. It is also just few kilometers away from the border with Indonesia.
    In this new presence, the Salesians are going to establish a technical school that in the long run will provide human resources to different oil fields in East Timor. So, this is practically a new venture for the people of Timor Leste in general and the Salesians in particular. Timor Leste is known for its gas and oil but the lack of qualified human resources has made this poor country to be always at the mercy of the cunning experts of different big transnational corporations. Hence, it is not a surprise to see different groups of people attended the inauguration of this school.
    The main infrastructures are being built still and there is a lot more work to be done, yet the inauguration is aptly dedicated to express our deep gratitude to different benefactors like AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo) which is the main sponsor of this project, the Government of Timor Leste, particularly the minister of Education (HE Mr. Joao Cancio) which entrusts this project to the full care of the Salesians and last but not the least, Most Rev. Bishop Norberto Amaral wo has joyfully welcomed the Salesians to be partners in the efforts of heralding the Good News in his diocese. Mons. Rodrigo Bilbao, the representative of the Apostolic Nuncio to East Timor graced this opportunity with his presence as well.