Growing up in a small farming village in Bacau, Timor-Leste, Pedrosa’s family struggled just to put food on the table – let alone pay for the quality education of her dreams.
But thanks to the support of our compassionate Jesuit Mission family, Pedrosa received a scholarship to the Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola (CSIL) – a remarkable school where 98 to 100 percent of students graduate each year.
Not only did Pedrosa graduate from CSIL with high marks, she also received a second scholarship, funded by kind supporters like you, to study biology at the prestigious National University of Timor-Lorosa’e.
“Scholarships help young Timorese students like me focus on their studies, plan their futures and achieve their dreams.”
Pedrosa
Now in her final year of study, Pedrosa is not only building a brighter future for herself, she now returns regularly to CSIL as a volunteer teacher to inspire the next generation as well.
“It’s like coming back home to serve,” she says.Tens of thousands of young people in Timor-Leste are missing out on the education they need to escape the shadows of poverty.
Timor-Leste is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations. It also has one of the world’s youngest populations. With a median age of just 21, the country’s future depends on the education of its young people.
Despite this, Timorese youth continue to face enormous barriers to their education.
70 percent of families live in rural communities where access to education is limited. Many teachers have no formal training. The World Bank notes that only 12 percent of schools have more than half of their students achieving a passing grade by Year 9.
Pedrosa’s story shows just how much a bright young student can achieve when given the opportunity to shine.
Pedrosa featured in our Christmas appeal 2025.
