Building Hope in Timor-Leste: Expanding the Alma Sisters Disability Care Centre
A group of Northern Territory professionals is partnering with the Alma Sisters Community Centre in Dili, Timor-Leste, to help expand vital disability care services for some of the country’s most vulnerable children.
From 3–6 November, a volunteer team of Darwin-based engineers, architects, and planners will travel to Dili to prepare a pro bono Master Plan for a $500,000 redevelopment that will double residential capacity and significantly expand therapy and learning facilities.
Currently, the centre supports 17 children full-time and assists another 30 through therapy and education programs. Many of these children have been orphaned or abandoned due to the ongoing stigma surrounding disability in parts of Timor-Leste.
This redevelopment will provide:
- 10 therapy and education rooms
- 4 new residential rooms (increasing capacity to 30 children)
- 2 new bathroom and toilet blocks
The initiative is supported by the Catholic Diocese of Darwin, the Timor-Leste Government, and several key partners, including Federal MP Luke Gosling OAM and community leader Eddie De Pina.
A Mission Close to the Heart
Bishop Charles Gauci of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin has given his full support to the project:
“I have personally witnessed the Sisters’ ministry and was profoundly moved by their Christ-like love for the children in their care. Their dedication is remarkable, and I hold the deepest respect for them. This project deserves our full support.”
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your support will help bring dignity, care, and opportunity to children living with disabilities in Timor-Leste. Together, we can help the Alma Sisters expand their life-changing mission of love and inclusion.
- Master Plan completion: November 2025
- Construction phase: 2026–2027 (pending funding)
- Donate today and help build a brighter future for the children of Timor-Leste