Timor-Leste Matadalan ba Malu Award Recipients

The Matadalan ba Malu (MBM) community program is an initiative between the RMIT University School of Global, Urban and Social Studies and RMIT Training that has been running since 2005.

The program is designed to provide women in Timor-Leste with leadership development and community capacity building via their learning at RMIT University.

As part of the program, RMIT Training has provided two 10-week scholarships to two women every year. The scholarships cover costs such as airfares, homestay, living expenses, visas, health cover, transport and experiences, funded by a combination of private donors, community groups, organisations and institutions.

This year we are pleased to welcome two MBM recipients to Melbourne to commence ELICOS programs, Nuncia Xavier and Sedeligia Guterres.

Nuncia was born in a small village in Timor-Leste into a farming family, the eldest of five children. “As the first born, I faced many challenges in my life, in particular financial hardship during my studies, although my parents always tried hard to support me. Despite the challenges, in 2015 I graduated in public health at a private university in Timor-Leste. I now work at Childfund Timor-Leste as a Project Coordinator for Early Childhood Development (ECD).”

Nuncia is thrilled to be here in Melbourne. “I wanted to study English and live in Australia for 3 months because I would like to learn about a new culture, link with other people at RMIT University, and experience international student life. I believe these are all fantastic ways to improve my English language skills.”

Sedeligia is 24 years old and lives with her parents and four sisters in Timor-Leste. “My sisters and I are all now studying our undergraduate degrees. I am studying a General Law at the University Timor Lorosa’e in my third year. I am also working with a company where I train tour guides for the tourists who are visiting Timor-Leste.”

Sedeligia says, “I want to study English here in Melbourne because I believe through such a learning experience I can enhance my leadership skills. As a young woman I want to share and help my fellow young women in my country, as I believe in the saying 'strong women strong country!”

We wish both Nuncia and Sedeligia the best for their time here at RMIT, and look forward to what this opportunity will bring them in the future.

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Timor-Leste Matadalan ba Malu Award Recipients