The Power of One-to-One Reading Support in Timor-Leste

Reading opens up a future brimming with possibilities.

Yet, for 9-year-old Tomás, who had struggled with reading ever since he could remember, his chance of finishing school didn’t look good and his future seemed uncertain. This is a common reality for children living in rural Timor-Leste, where only 37% of children can read compared to 96% in urban areas. This literacy gap casts a long shadow, often limiting opportunities for education and employment.

Recognising the importance of literacy in children's development, ChildFund in Timor-Leste launched a one-to-one afterschool reading program to enhance reading skills among primary school students. ECALO (Every Child Achieving Literacy Outcome) focuses on providing dedicated, individual support that makes all the difference for children like Tomás.

For Tomás, this difference came in the gentle guidance of Alfredo, a local volunteer trained by ChildFund. Alfredo noticed Tomás’s quiet struggle with reading wasn't due to a lack of understanding, but an undiagnosed speech impairment. His stutter made each word a mountain to climb, leading to frustration and silence.

“I asked him if he struggles with speaking, and he admitted that he did. All this time, he was struggling, not because he couldn’t read, but because of his speech difficulties. It took him a long time to read a word or two out loud,” said Alfredo. 

Alfredo’s patience and tailored approach were transformative. He used techniques learned at ChildFund trainings to encourage Tomás to take deep breaths, slow down, and use word cards to help him piece sentences together.

And it worked.

With each session, Tomás’s confidence grew, and his literacy skills improved. His frustrations began to fade, replaced by the joy of reading.

“I enjoy reading with the facilitators. They help me understand and read better,” Tomás told us as he happily flipped through the pages of a book that he was reading.  

Inspired by their child's progress and with support from the ChildFund volunteers, his parents became active partners in his learning journey. “My mum and dad also help me with my reading at home. We usually read together at night, using the books given to us by the facilitator,” added Tomás.

Every child should have the chance to read, to learn and to dream big. ChildFund in Timor-Leste’s powerful, community-led reading program gives children like Tomás the personalised, one-to-one attention they need to achieve their full potential.

Donate today and empower children like Tomás to overcome obstacles and build their confidence, one story at a time. Your support helps ChildFund continue to deliver vital programs like ECALO, fostering a brighter future for children in Timor-Leste and across the world.

The Every Child Achieving Literacy Outcomes Program is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).