Sandra and Lola are two former Klibur Domin (KD) Uma Garton resident students who graduated at the end of 2020 from the local Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHMS) at Tibar. They now live in Dili where they are furthering their careers. Lola and her brother Antonio both lived at KD since they were toddlers given their disabilities were not able to be managed in their remote family village. Lola and her brother Antonio were in special wheelchairs, made for them by KD staff, which were adjusted for them as they grew.
Sandra and Lola are from families who live in remote mountain villages in the Ermera district. KD’s Uma Garton became their second home and the other house students became their close family siblings. Their house parent, mana Maria Anina, was their carer and friend and supervisor.
When Sandra’s mother became ill, Sandra left the local Letefoho pre-secondary school to care for her mother and six younger siblings including her baby sister, as well as cooking and cleaning their family home in the mountain village of Letefoho. Being accepted into KD’s Uma Garton program, Sandra was able to complete her secondary education at the IHMS school at Tibar and make new friends.
Sandra and Lola speak the local national language of Tetum and their district dialect of Mambae as well as Portuguese.
Sandra and Lola have now moved on from KD’s Uma Garton program and live independently in Dili, the capital city of Timor-Leste. Lola attended a post- secondary school training course in Dili in Office Administration and is now working in one of the Government Ministerial departments in Dili. Sandra is a student at the Dili Institute of Technology. They are wonderful examples of successful graduates of KD’s Uma Garton program. Lola’s brother Antonio also graduated from KD’s Uma Garton a couple of years ago and he is living independently and working in Dili.
Dianne Hadden