Access to clean and reliable water remains one of the most practical foundations for health, education, and community wellbeing. In Fuiloro, Timor‑Leste, a simple but effective solution is helping turn seasonal rainfall into a dependable source of drinking water for thousands.
At the heart of the Salesians’ work in TimorLeste is a commitment to supporting young Timorese in rural communities, where access to education and basic services remains limited. In Fuiloro, more than 75 per cent of the local population are reliant on farming, making practical education and reliable water essential to daily life and future opportunities.
The Don Bosco Educational Centre in Fuiloro has long played a key role in responding to these needs, supporting young people through education and skills based learning, particularly through its agricultural programs. Recently the school was able to install a rainwater harvesting system on the school’s refectory building, capturing rainfall and channeling it into a 16,000litre storage tank.
Once fully operational, this system will provide clean and safe drinking water for approximately 2,000 students, staff, and community members living within the compound. Reliable access to water will improve health and hygiene, support a better learning environment, and reduce reliance on irregular or distant water sources, especially during dry periods.
Encouragingly, this commitment to improving water access is also happening in other parts of TimorLeste. In Maliana, water maintenance works are being completed at Don Bosco Technical and Boarding School Maumali, which supports 126 students, boys and girls, from across the country. As many students live on campus while undertaking vocational training, reliable access to water is essential to daily life, health, and learning for both students and staff who call the school home during the academic year.
On World Water Day, these projects highlight how practical, community‑led solutions can make a lasting difference by improving access to safe water, supporting healthier learning environments, and strengthening resilience for the future.
Together, these initiatives highlight how practical, community based solutions can strengthen resilience, protect health, and support young people to learn, grow, and build a more secure future.
