Hi everyone, my name is Hailey Huntingford and I am currently in Year 11 at Nagle Catholic College. Over the term 2 holidays, I took up the opportunity to travel to Timor-Leste with Ben and Lauren from The Cagliero Project. During the two weeks, I had the privilege of working alongside Salesian communities who follow the teachings of Don Bosco. This opportunity was so incredible, and it is something I will remember forever! Being welcomed into the Timorese communities and seeing how they live their eveyday lives was such a special experience.

Timor-Leste is the youngest sovereign country in Asia, and it has faced severe and ongoing economic, political and social challenges. In 1975, Timor-Leste declared independence from Portugal, to which Indonesia then launched an invasion on Timor. Indonesia's takeover of Timor was one of the most brutual military occupations in the 20th century, with approximately 200,000 Timorese deaths. In 1999, the independence referendum allowed for the seperation from Indonesia after 24 years of occupation. Timor-Leste now has a population of 1.44 million people, with 70% of them being under the age of 30 years old, and 44% of them living under the international poverty line.

The Salesians of Don Bosco are the #1 non-governmental education provider in Timor, running more than 70 schools, youth centres and training facilities. Salesians provide education, meals, medical care and community support to thousands of children each year.

Salesian Missions Australia will be matching dollar-for-dollar for every donation that is made, for up to $5,500 raised. This means that my fundraiser will go twice as far!

The donations from this fundraiser will be going towards a new 10,000 litre water tank and refurbishments to the bathroom facilities for a school located in Laga, Timor-Leste. Currently, the school has only one functional toilet block, as the additional toilet block is unable to be used due to lack of safe water. The school consists of 618 students and 42 staff members.

Any donation that is made, big or small, means so much to me, and it will make a huge impact in the Laga community.

Thank you!