For the past couple of years, the TLDP has had the privilege of helping two of our friends, Fran Saggers and John Tweedie (and their friends), support the studies of a fabulous young lady, Anna Paula Dos Santos Tavares Salgado, who hails from Same, several hours south of Dili. John first met Anna Paula at a Scout Jamboree in Victoria, and realised what the TLDP has since discovered upon meeting her – she is a force to be reckoned with – hardworking, engaging and determined. Anna Paula has now completed a Certificate III in Dental Assisting and is due to finish her Diploma of Dental Technology from Brisbane TAFE this July. Timor Leste currently has no qualified dental technicians – these are the people who make dentures (and crowns and mouthguards) –  so the Timorese people will benefit greatly from her skills. Dentists and dental technicians work closely together to replace missing teeth, much needed in a country where emergency extractions are still the most common form of treatment. Anna Paula has not been home for 6 years, so she returns to TL in August to determine her next steps. Watch this space!

John is part of the very active Blue Mountains Friendship Group of Hato Builiko, a village near Mt Ramelau, TL’s highest peak. This group is holding a ‘Trek for Timor’ on Saturday 17th September 2016 in the beautiful World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, to raise money for basic services in this remote village. The group has already built a school using money from last year’s trek. Get a team together, put your hiking shoes on and experience this stunning world heritage area AND support this fantastic group!   Link to Trek for Timor