The Friends of Maliana group is currently in recess. We have left this page here to show the great work done by the this group, in the hope that one day soon other Parishioners will step forward to carry on supporting the people of Timor Leste.
In the interim, the Mission in Action Fund continues to provide financial support to the Salesian Sisters in Maliana and Cailaco.
What is Friends of Maliana all about?
Where is Maliana
Maliana is in the Bobonaro Province of Timor Leste
Bobonara Province is on the border of Indonesia
Timor Leste is one of Australia's closest neighbours
Why are we Friends of Maliana
Maliana is a diocesan parish with a strong Salesian presence of priests, brothers and sisters
Maliana is one of the poorest communities in one of the poorest countries in the world
Without help, children and youth of the Parish struggle to gain the most basic education
Without an education and skill training you have little chance of employment
Both part of the Bobonaro Province in Timor Leste, and the same Parish.
To raise awareness of the importance of a commitment to social justice with the specific commitment to Maliana
To raise awareness in our Parish of the plight of one of the poorest communities in one of the poorest countries in the world
To raise funds to support various projects conducted by the Salesians in Maliana and Cailaco, Timor Leste
2023 fundraising event
The Maliana Art Show 8 & 9 July 2023 raised over $9,000
The Maliana Art Show was presented by the Bosco Friends of Maliana, a work of the parish of St John Bosco, with all profits going to the support of the people of Maliana in Timor Leste and fund projects that have been identified as necessary by the people of Maliana.
The current project being funded is aimed at enabling a significant increase in the number of young women who can receive work focused education in Maliana.
The Art Show included over 100 works of art. Funds were raised via a number of avenues:
Saturday evening Gala Event with an entry cost of $50
Day entry to the show on Saturday and Sunday at a cost of $5pp
Online Art Auction
Art Raffle with over $3,000 in prizes at a cost of $5 per ticket
Silent Art Auction
20% of the sale prices of art on show.
2022 fundraising event
On a beautiful sunny day, parishioners from our parish walked or ran in the ‘Sutherland 2 Surf’ annual fundraising event which raises funds for the Wanda Surf Life Saving Club and Wesley Mission’s Suicide Prevention Program. Our participants also walked to help raise funds for the people of Timor-Leste and in particular for the ongoing financial support for educational initiatives in Maliana with $2,155 raised.
Projects currently supported
The Bosco Social Justice Group has donated $15,000 to assist with furniture for a new Salesian Boarding College for 50 students in Cailaco, Timor Leste. Cailaco is part of the Parish of Maliana. A further $35,000 has been donated for the same project from the Parish Mission in Action Fund. Details about the Boarding School are contained on this LINK page.
Boarding School Cailaco Appeal_20210206by_VideoShow.mp4The Salesian Sisters in Cailaco, Maliana are commencing to build a boarding school for girls who currently walk many kilometres to the village for education. Full story and photos on this LINK
In 2023, while awaiting the completion of the Boarding School in Cailaco, Friends of Maliana will continue to finance:
The rental of a house for the sewing school
The wages of two sewing teachers
Scholarships for three (3) girls/young women to attend the Morano Centre in Fuiloro.
Since 2012, Friends of Maliana have supported the young women of Cailaco, providing year long scholarships for three young Cailaco women.
Projects we have supported in the past
Refurbishment of Chapel
Maintenance of the Maliana Primary School
Replaced roof on Preschool Building with new wooden trusses and zinc, replace ceiling, windows and doors for four rooms, tiled floor and added railing for verandah.
Excavate soil from back of school building to put on the primary school playground in preparation for landscaping.
Shipment of urgent medical supplies
to the Maliana Distract Hospital during Covid lockdown
Donation of medical supplies for the Maliana District Hospital
Distribution of rosary beads made by the parishioners of Engadine to the students in the Bosco Technical College run by the Salesians at Maumali (an outlying village of Maliana)
Provision of a three year teacher training scholarship at ICFP, Baucau, for a young man from Parish of Santa Cruz, Maliana
Click here for a Short History of Friends of Maliana
Pictures below during a visit from Engadine Parishioners to Maliana, Timor Leste
Fr Ernesto PP Maliana (white T-shirt) with some young parishioners at Mouliana, an outlying village in Maliana Parish.
Fr Belzito sjb with Kathleen and children of Mouliana
Fr Belzito sjb receiving the very first gift from the Engadine Bosco Community - net and volleyball equipment for the Haliko community, a small outlying village in Maliana Parish
Sisters Ernestino and Maria Vik, Salesian Sisters, with Fr Ernesto (PP Maliana) in Cailaco 2012
This gift of a traditional Timorese tais, woven by the young women for Hailiko
Kathleen Le Gras passed away on 24 January 2023, and will always be fondly remembered
If you would like to be a Friend of Maliana, or help in some way, or want more information, contact Helen Gurney at hgurney7@gmail.com
