Alessandro Piovano, co-founder of Educating The Future, which is a youth-run not-for-profit organisation dedicated to constructing preschools in the most underprivileged regions of Timor-Leste. Here, Alessandro writes about how he and Adam Hegedus embarked on an inspiring mission to improve the lives of the children of the young nation of Timor-Leste.
Adam Hegedus and I have a mission – to increase access to quality education for vulnerable children in Timor-Leste. Together we co-founded of Educating The Future, a youth-run not-for-profit organisation which is dedicated to constructing preschools in the most underprivileged regions of this young nation. After completing three preschools over the past five years, we are now preparing to set out on a non-stop trek across the Great Ocean Walk on Victoria’s south coast to raise $30,000 for the construction of a fourth preschool.
This is a special mission that pays tribute to how our organisation started in 2016, when Adam and I walked 800km from Bondi to Byron Bay to raise $20,000. The momentum from this epic journey led us to establish Educating The Future and the money went directly towards the construction of our first preschool construction for the Motahare community in the Ermera District of Timor-Leste.
In the five years that have followed, Adam and I have matured with this organisation and achieved a suite of amazing feats including raising more than $350,000 for the construction of a further three preschools in Timor-Leste. We have achieved the highest standards of governance and reporting in Australia. We are incredibly proud of how far this organisation has come in five years, and excited for what’s to come in the next five years.
What inspired us? Our first visit to Timor-Leste in 2014 was part of a high-school immersion program. It opened our eyes to the global disparity in education standards. We were welcomed by the Railaco Motahare community where we first learned how important education is in transforming the lives of disadvantaged youth. When we returned to the Motahare community in 2017, the paddock where the community first welcomed us, now housed a preschool catering for more than 100 children who otherwise would not have received an education. Adam says it was that moment he understood just how important our work was. I couldn’t agree more.
Educating The Future now works in tandem with the Timorese Ministry of Education, collaborating to construct preschools in the areas that are locally defined as most in need. The trust in our work and its proven effectiveness is what drives the Educating The Future team and allows us to continue doing what we’re doing.
If you would like to get involved with Educating The Future or support our Great Ocean Walk, you can find out more here.
About Educating The Future
Educating The Future is a youth-led registered charity committed to empowering disadvantaged communities in Timor-Leste to overcome barriers to poverty through education. ETF has constructed four preschools in Timor-Leste since establishing in 2017, giving more than 350 children a chance to access quality education.
Educating the Future is the only not-for-profit working in collaboration with the Timorese Government and local communities to drive sustainable societal in Timor-Leste through education.
Our work depends on the generosity of donors and more than 40 volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to helping children in need.
Educating the Future’s partners include Alola Foundation Timor-Leste, Unicef, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Timor-Leste, the Australian Department of Social Services, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Carrol & O’Dea,L K Tsia Accountants, MedicoLegal Assessments Group, Waverley College, Waverley Old Boys Union, Kambala College, St Clare’s, Killara High School and Rose Bay Secondary College.
Premium donors include Lion and The Dinner Ladies. Other generous donors have included The Clovelly Hotel, Faber-Castell, Bondi Bowling Club, Grill’d, Cadbury, Trybooking, Banner Buzz and Signarama.
https://www.educatingthefuture.org/
The Carousel team would like to thank Alessandro Piovano for his story about how he and Adam Hegedus are making a difference to the young children of Timor-Leste and their community. We wish them luck and invite our readers to support them achieve their admirable goal.
