The Bakhita School of Excellence in Same, Timor-Leste, celebrated a major milestone this month with the official opening of the Bakhita English Institute — a new initiative offering evening English classes to adults and youth in the local community.
Launched as part of BETTER Timor’s mission to empower Timorese people through education and opportunity, the Bakhita English Institute delivers high-quality, practical English training focused on real-life communication, job readiness, and confidence building.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by 83-year-old Sandra Byak, a migrant to Australia from Croatia who learned English as a second language and went on to a career in preschool education, and her daughter Vanessa Calil, an English and ESL teacher. Sandra stood proudly alongside her granddaughter, and Vanessa with her niece — Ornella Byak, the founder of BETTER, who now lives in Timor-Leste full-time to oversee the charity’s growing impact. Community leaders, students, and families gathered for the occasion, with the local P&C presenting traditional woven tais in a moving show of cultural pride and community support.
Interest in the program has far exceeded expectations. The first intake was oversubscribed, with dozens more people asking to join — even stopping Ornella at the petrol station to plead for a spot. Students range from teenagers to adults in their 50s, all eager to improve their English in order to access better employment opportunities, prepare for overseas work programs, or simply grow in confidence.
“English is a key that opens doors — to employment, further education, and a global conversation many Timorese feel locked out of,” said Ornella. “We weren’t sure what the interest level would be. But as Timor-Leste prepares for ASEAN membership later this year, the demand is overwhelming.”
Classes run Monday to Friday, 6:30pm–8:30pm, and are taught by trained local teachers using a bespoke curriculum and workbook tailored to the Timorese context. The course focuses on speaking, listening, reading, writing, and practical vocabulary, including topics such as workplace routines, daily communication, and job interview preparation.
The Institute is part of a broader vision to prepare Timorese youth for opportunities both within the country and abroad — including through Australia’s PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) Program.
For Ornella, who first visited Timor as a teenager and made a promise to return, the opening of the English Institute is a deeply personal moment and another step toward fulfilling that promise.
“We’re building more than a school,” she said. “We’re building bridges — between generations, between cultures, and between dreams and the opportunities to achieve them.”
With plans already underway to expand the school’s campus next year, the Bakhita English Institute is just getting started. But for now, the classrooms are full, the whiteboards are busy, and the air is buzzing with energy and hope.
To support the ongoing work of BETTER, visit:
👉 Support Us