BETTER’s eNews
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Building Bridges in Education: A Visit from Geelong Teachers
Sunday 28 September 2025
Recently, we welcomed a group of teachers from Geelong, Melbourne to the Bakhita School of Excellence. They spent a full day with me in Same...
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A Milestone Achievement: BEI’s First English Course Graduates
Sunday 28 September 2025
This month marks a historic moment for the Bakhita English Institute (BEI) as students in our very first Level 1 English course have success...
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From Timor to Australia: Sharing Our Story
Sunday 28 September 2025
In September, our Founder and CEO, Ornella Byak, returned to Australia for a busy and impactful trip. Over the course of two weeks, she met ...
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Strengthening Our Future: Professional Learning with GALA
Sunday 28 September 2025
Recently, our Founder and CEO, Ornella Byak, was invited to attend a training program run by GALA (Gabinete de Apoio Licenciamento e Acredit...
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A New Chapter: Bakhita School Launches Weekly Library Program
Sunday 28 September 2025
At the Bakhita School of Excellence, the love of reading has just been given a brand-new boost with the launch of our weekly library program...
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A Trip Report from One of Our Recent Visitors
Friday 25 July 2025
A wonderful and life-affirming family trip to Timor-Leste to visit Ornella Byak and BETTER’s Bakhita School of Excellence. Timor-Leste...
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Term 2 Report: Growth, Progress & Promise at Bakhita
Friday 25 July 2025
As Term 2 concludes at the Bakhita School of Excellence, we’re proud to share a snapshot of the meaningful progress your support has helped ...
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Building BETTER: Term 2 Staff Reflection & Training
Friday 25 July 2025
As Term 2 came to a close, the team at the Bakhita School of Excellence wrapped up with a powerful three days of professional development, r...
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The Bakhita English Institute Opens and is Oversubscribed!
Friday 25 July 2025
The Bakhita School of Excellence in Same, Timor-Leste, celebrated a major milestone this month with the official opening of the Bakhita Engl...
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News Report from Miss Whittaker
Wednesday 25 June 2025
After reading the Marie Claire article, Miss Whittaker’s was so moved she chose to focus her Duke of Edinburgh News Story on BETTER’s work i...
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Why BETTER’s School with English Matters More Than Ever—Now That Timor-Leste will attain ASEAN Membership in October 2025
Monday 26 May 2025
By Ornella Byak It’s been an incredible year for Timor-Leste. After years of hard work, resilience, and hope, Timor-Leste will attain full m...
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BETTER’s Bakhita School of Excellence presents at the 23rd Anniversary of Timor-Leste’s Independence
Tuesday 20 May 2025
The students were invited by the head of state to showcase their English to the community as motivation for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership l...
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Inspiring Generosity: How Three Young Girls Chose Philanthropy Over Presents to support BETTER
Wednesday 14 May 2025
In a world often focused on materialism and personal gain, the altruistic actions of three young girls in Sydney have shone a heartwarming l...
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BETTER Meets with National Environmental Licensing Authority
Saturday 5 April 2025
April 5th, 2025 The National Environmental Licensing Authority, Public Institute (ANLA, I.P.), The Environment Director (ULA). Mr. Gilberto ...
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Ornella featured in the Marie Claire Australia Magazine
Thursday 27 March 2025
This month, Ornella was featured in the Marie Claire Australia Magazine March Edition, Changemaker Feature as shown below👇 ABOUT @marieclair...
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BETTER's 2024 Annual Report is out now!
Wednesday 26 March 2025
The 2024 Annual Report from BETTER (Building East Timor Through Education/Resources) Limited highlights the organisation’s ongoing impact in...
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news
Ornella featured in the Sydney Morning Herald's 'Lunch With' Section
Saturday 22 June 2024
Read the 2-page spread in the Saturday June 22nd print edition of the Sydney Morning Herald or click the link below to read the online versi...
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reports
Three months in and look at the results…
Saturday 23 March 2024
Wow! Its been 3 months since I relocated to Timor Leste from Sydney. Since arriving in November It has been indescribably busy, sleepless, a...
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reports
Returning to East Timor was everything I hoped it would be and more… from BETTER's General Manager Amanda
Friday 22 March 2024
After my last trip in April 2023 for the opening of the Bakhita School of Excellence in Same (Sah-may), I didn’t think it could get an...
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reports
BETTER Timor Times: I've moved to Timor!
Wednesday 6 December 2023
It feels somewhat strange to be writing this, but I can now officially say “I live in Timor.” In writing this, I was reminded of...
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updates
Meet Febrilencia & Michael from BETTER's School
Wednesday 14 June 2023
Dear Friend, I wanted to take a moment to bring to your attention a critical issue affecting the education landscape in East Timor, our clos...
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media-releases
24-year-old Australian makes history
Saturday 3 June 2023
24-year-old Australian makes history as the Youngest Foreigner, Honoured with Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste for a Decade of Service in A...
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updates
Media Update: BETTER Timor Launches Bakhita School of Excellence
Sunday 14 May 2023
BETTER Timor Launches Bakhita School of Excellence on 24th of April 2023 On 24th of April BETTER Timor launched Bakhita School of Excel...
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reports
Dec 22/Jan23 Trip Report
Sunday 22 January 2023
It was certainly an eventful trip ranging from an earthquake just before heading home, spending more than 5 hours with the President Dr José...
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reports
The Reality in East Timor
Wednesday 7 December 2022
East Timor, now known as Timor Leste*, has the highest rate of poverty in Southeast Asia. More than 40% of the population lives below the po...
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reports
Our East Timor Partner - Eddie De Pina
Wednesday 23 November 2022
Eddie De Pina was born in what was then known as East Timor. He fled his homeland with his parents and some of his siblings when Indonesian ...
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reports
Nurturing graduate employability with prosocial engagement
Wednesday 16 November 2022
The post was originally posted on the USYD Co-Design Research Group Blog: https://cdrg.blog/2022/11/03/nurturing-graduate-employability-with...
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stories
Meet Jeronimo - a Letefoho Alumni
Thursday 27 October 2022
“I feel that something beautiful has been created; many more facilities than before… new experiences from teachers who taught us improving o...
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stories
Sandra's Story
Thursday 27 October 2022
We are proud to introduce you to Sandra. An alumni from the first school. Sandra graduated in 2016 and returned voluntarily to teach Chemist...
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updates
Bakhita School of Excellence
Thursday 27 October 2022
We are beaming with pride to announce… The plans for a second school in the isolated rural location of Same! While there are a number of sch...
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reports
Dec 19/Jan 20 Trip Report
Saturday 11 July 2020
With a frantic Christmas push to see family and friends before I left and wrapping up work with a Christmas party on that same day I hadn’t ...
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reports
2019 July Trip Report
Thursday 18 July 2019
Hi All, As many of you may know I have been working in Timor for over 6 years in education. Upon returning from my 2018 trip I saw the great...
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reports
Results From Cailaco
Thursday 12 July 2018
I conducted a Stage 2 (Australian year 3 and 4) Mathematics test on student in year 8 aged between 13-17 with an average age of 15. The resu...
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stories
2018 Report – The Beginning of BETTER
Monday 4 June 2018
Over the past 4 years great improvements have been made to the Letefoho High School following its opening in 2013. With generous support, th...
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