Sponsor a Child in Dili, East Timor
Sponsored children: 0 of 13
Help Children in Dili Build Their Future
In the capital of East Timor, the Pintu Satu and Manleu boarding houses welcome children and young people who need a safe place to live, learn and grow.
Through sponsorship, you can help provide education, stability and encouragement to a child who needs it most.
Why Is Support Needed in East Timor?
East Timor, also called Timor-Leste is one of the youngest nations in Asia, having achieved full independence in 2002 after decades of conflict and instability. This difficult history has left a lasting impact on the country and its people. Today, East Timore remains a small, largely rural and mountainous country, with around 1.3 million inhabitants and significant challenges in education and healthcare. Around half of the population is under the age of 22.
Although poverty can sometimes be less visible at first glance, daily life remains difficult for many families. Very little is produced locally, even rice is imported, and many households struggle to meet their basic needs. The cost of everyday goods can place real pressure on families with limited and irregular incomes. In Dili, this pressure is even stronger, as housing, transport and daily expenses are often higher than elsewhere in the country. As a result, many families have little left to invest in their children’s schooling, accommodation or essential supplies.
What Challenges Do Children Face at School?
Education is officially compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14, but this is not always enforced, particularly in rural areas. Around 20% of children are not enrolled in school. Public schools often face overcrowding, limited resources and a lack of discipline, while private schools, many of them Catholic, generally offer better educational support and more focus on children’s overall development.
Because secondary education is stronger in Dili than in rural areas, some young people move to the capital to continue their studies. But without family support or financial means, this move can be extremely difficult.
What Are the Pintu Satu and Manleu Boarding Houses?
Today, 19 young people aged between 7 and 21 live in the two boarding houses run by the Missionaries of the Loving Heart of Jesus community in Dili. Nearly all come from rural areas of East Timor. Some are orphans, while others were taken in because their families were too poor to care for them. Many now have little or no contact with their biological families. In the boarding houses, they have found a new sense of family.
Life there is very simple. The children and young people share modest dormitories, while the kitchen and bathrooms remain basic. The sisters do everything they can to support them, but their resources are extremely limited.
Who Looks After the Children?
The boarding houses are led by Sister Ermelinda, known as “Madre Linda”, who co-founded the Missionaries of the Loving Heart of Jesus and now manages the two homes.
She is described as a steady and deeply devoted presence for the young people she supports.
She is assisted by Sister Francesca, local programme manager of the Manleu boarding house, and Sister Juliana, who supports the team with accounting.
Together, they provide not only shelter, but daily care, encouragement and a family-like presence for children who have often experienced great hardship.
How Does Sponsorship Make a Difference?
Sponsorship helps cover the essential costs that allow each child to go to school in good conditions. This includes:
- school fees and enrolment costs
- transport
- uniforms
- essential learning materials
- support for daily life in the boarding houses
With very limited resources, the sisters cannot always enrol the children in the private schools that often provide a better standard of education than overcrowded public schools. Sponsorship therefore directly helps give each young person a better chance to learn, grow and prepare for the future.
How Does the Programme Support the Wider Community?
Beyond the boarding houses, the sisters also support children from the surrounding community. They provide after-school support and organise activities for children living nearby. Thanks to a donation, a learning support centre was recently built next to the Manleu boarding house, where weekend classes now take place.
Sponsorship therefore helps not only individual children, but also strengthens a wider network of care and education around the boarding houses.
