Loreto Sisters Margie Bourke and Diaan Stuart first took up residence in Gari-uai in August 2014 after consultation with local community leaders eager to improve educational standards for the youngest members of their community.
With the support of Sisters Natalie Houlihan and Francine Roberts living in nearby Baucau, Loreto quickly went about establishing a preschool, initially housed in the community hall until the new, purpose-built school was completed in late 2017 in the heart of Gari-uai.
Since it first opened its doors in 2015, the preschool, Centro Loreto, has played an important role in the community. While its core function is to educate the children of Gari-uai, the attached community centre also provides a place for adults to gather and participate in non-formal education and training.
Today, Centro Loreto still operates under the guidance of the Loreto Sisters Australia and South East Asia, but over the past few years it has successfully transitioned to a local leadership model, with a Timorese director at the helm and local teachers in each classroom.
Centro Loreto serves as a shining example of quality education in the pre-primary school years and calls to attention the importance of school readiness. Each year, 70 children attend the preschool. Those graduating do so with a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy and well-developed social and emotional skills, ready for the academic journey ahead of them.
The Loreto Sisters continue to support local staff to conduct quality adult education programs at the community centre and in the past few years, Centro Loreto has served as a hub for the delivery of sustainable livelihoods and health programs. Over the coming year English lessons and sewing workshops will be held, in addition to more wide-ranging health education classes.
It is with great anticipation that we look forward to Centro Loreto flourishing under local leadership, while remaining grounded in Loreto values and a fundamental desire to create just and sustainable change with women, children and communities.
Mary Ward International Australia and the Loreto Sisters extend our sincere appreciation to the Noel and Carmel O’Brien Family Foundation for funding the construction of Centro Loreto and the Loreto Community Centre in nearby Ostico.
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