ABOUT US

Our MISSION
Empower members of impoverished communities to achieve an improved quality of life and capacity to achieve their potential.

Our PURPOSE
We work with volunteers, including young people, in Australia, Timor-Leste and globally to raise awareness and funds. In turn, we work with the Ministry of Education to provide pre-school education infrastructure built by local communities and run by the Municipal Government.

Our VISION
A world in which all children have the opportunity to access quality education to reach their true potential.
What is Educating The Future?
Educating The Future (ETF) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation operating at a grassroots level supported by community and corporate seeks to facilitate relief from poverty and generational disadvantage by providing access to preschool education. Since becoming a registered charity in 2016, ETF has established a volunteer team of students and an expert advisory panel, who are all committed to improving the quality of education in Timor-Leste. Funds raised by Educating The Future, in Australia, enable the construction and/or renovation of preschool infrastructure in regional areas of Timor-Leste as well as the facilitation of in-country partnerships. The organisation now creates manifold value to both Timorese and Australian communities.
Our team of 35 student volunteers constitute the bedrock of ETF’s work in Australia. As students themselves, our volunteers are united in their understanding of the transformative power of education across all contexts. In recognising the correlation between access to fundamental early education and a higher quality of life, our volunteers are motivated by the understanding of the potential invaluable impacts that their collective efforts can have on the lives of Timorese youth.
Our student volunteer base is supported by an advisory panel of individuals dedicated to ensuring that the organisation is well managed and continues to be a relevant and value-adding organisation. Hailing from all walks of life, the expert advisory panel is capable of proffering a plethora of professional and experiential knowledge to advise and inspire the work of our student volunteers. The emphasis on mentorship across all levels of the organisation has not only enhanced the efficiency of ETF’s work but has fostered a creative environment wherein collaboration is paramount.
Guided by our commitment to sustainable development, a core objective of ETFs work is the establishment of in-country networks and relationships in order to facilitate the development of rural early education in accordance with local customs and values. In Timor, ETF has developed a strong friendship with the Ministry of Education and local communities, working alongside the government to achieve the national goal of a preschool in every ‘suko’ [village]. In 2017, ETF constructed our inaugural preschool in Railaco Motahare, Ermera District, and in 2018, 10 preschoolers graduated to primary school – a promising foundation upon which ETF will continue to build.
When Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002, over 95% of educational infrastructure was destroyed and teachers fled to bordering Indonesia, leaving a country with a median age of 18 to rebuild from nothing. Presently, the national fail rate for grade 1 students sits at an astounding 23%. This means for a significant number of Timorese children, further essential education is precluded by a lack of a basic foundation. Noting these challenges, the Timorese government has made preschool education a priority. In accordance with this goal ETF has fashioned the following a developmental model which seeks to compliment the preexisting national system:
- Enable disadvantaged communities through access to quality education,
- Educate communities with a domestic curriculum, local teachers and methods,
- Empowering these communities, allowing for sustainability and self sufficiency into the future.
In Australia, ETF is developing the future leaders of the nation through a unique and inimitable volunteer experience. Young Australians become acquainted with diplomatic and bureaucratic processes, workplace environments, and leadership and professional development opportunities.
ETF is driven by a commitment to delivering work that is mutually beneficial for communities both at home and abroad, as well as contributing to the development of the Indo-Pacific as an amicable region for all communities, large and small. In 2018, ETF was thrilled to be named a recipient of the esteemed DFAT ‘Friendship Grant’, which will allow ETF to dramatically expand and enhance our activities in delivering quality education in Timor-Leste in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. This grant is a testament to ETF’s commitment to international and intercultural collaboration and dialogue. Young, energetic and endorsed by the Australian and Timorese Government, ETF is using the leaders of tomorrow to solve the issues of today.

Frequenty Asked Questions
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What are your priorities?
Building relationships and partnership with government and non government bodies to aid ETF’s plans to continue to build school in Ermera and potentially other districts. This ensures schools are sustainable as govt approval means teacher support and the maintenance of the school rather than ETF doing so
How does your school work?
- Taken over by government
- They cover maintenance, costs and teacher training
- In the future they may be able to fund the feeding of students
- School operates on monday-thursday
- Teachers are at training on fridays
- 2 classes
- A class => for younger students
- Class has 40 children
- Taught by 2 female teachers
- B class => for older preschool students
- Class has 20 students
- Taught by 1 male teacher
Why pre-schools and not primary or high-school?
- Government funds and support already exist in primary and high-school
- Students with no access to preschools are going to primary school and falling behind because they have no prior education
- In Ermera:
- Govt proposes that they need 1 preschool per village to solve the problem
- 28 preschools needed
What is the structure of the organisation?
What’s your company structure and how does your organisation work?
Is ETF a society?
Do I have to be a university student to join Educating the Future (ETF)?
Do I have to attend UNSW to join ETF?
This ensures that all members are maximising their workload and have the appropriate forums to ask questions if required. During busier times such as peak event and fundraising periods and launching a new program, time expected will be increased.
Can I participate in an immersion trip with Educating The Future?
How do I join your organisation?
How did ETF start?
Why do you work in Timor-Leste (overseas) when there are people struggling domestically?
Why is your organisation primarily students? How do you manage risk?
Despite the core team of ETF predominantly comprising of students and young professionals, ETF is overseen by a qualified Board of 8 members who are qualified in their field of expertise. The Board manages the risk, governance and strategy of ETF and ensures that all activities both domestically and internationally are compliant with regulations as outlined by the ACNC. Everything ETF engages in goes through the Board for their critiques and approval.