East Timor teacher learns Casey skills

By Sarah Schwager
AN EAST Timorese school teacher is in Casey as part of an exchange program to gain skills to help rebuild the politically volatile country.
Felix de Jesus Martins, from Ponilala, near Casey’s friendship city, Ermera, came to Casey for four weeks to look at English language teaching resources for use in schools in his district, and to improve his English.
Mr Martins was officially welcomed at a council meeting on 6 June and he thanked Casey Council and the Friends of Ermera for their work helping the small school.
He said Ponilala was so far from Ermera that the children had to walk very far, so he started teaching in a small room with no tables or chairs.
Mr Martins said five months later, he contacted the Friends of Ermera, who in turn helped provide the school with furniture.
The exchange program came about through a council resolution to provide assistance to a person from East Timor to come to Australia to gain skills to help with the rebuilding of East Timor.
Mr Martins was selected to take part because of his work with East Timorese school children.
Casey deputy mayor Rob Wilson said the recent unrest in Dili meant Mr Martins was unable to visit Australia in April, as originally planned, and he hoped that a peaceful resolution would be swift.
Councillor Wayne Smith said: “We are very lucky to have him here. I hope we can get him back equally as safely.”
Cr Smith said the trip could have a huge impact with minimal cost to council.
During his stay, Mr Martins will also undertake professional development activities, develop friendship links with teachers and students in local schools and with local organisations and further develop friendship links between the communities of the District of Ermera and Casey.
Mr Martins said there had been no trouble in Ermera before he left.