Timor Leste Children Shelter, Melaka

These children were originally from Timor Leste where they were displaced after their parents were killed during the internal conflict in the days leading to Timor Leste’s independence in 2002. These children, as young as 2 year old ,were found wondering the streets unaccompanied countless miles from their villages where they had lived before the conflict destroyed their families. Some of these children were severely traumatized as some of them had witness first hand the atrocities on their parents.

For accounting reasons, the shelter cannot accept funds directly from the public but interested parties could send monetary contribution on their behalf through the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – SSVP Melaka State Council Project Fund at the Melaka Public Bank Branch (Acct. No. 3142447201). They do welcome donation of items like exercise books and food items like Milo drink mix which to them are considered luxury items that the children would appreciate.

Interested parties can contact Ms. Lala Noronha directly at tlnewgen.malacca@gmail.com to find out what items that the children would need.

Observed by a group of recent visitors, the children appear to be well looked after and had fairly well-provided modest accommodations. They have a small library as well as a few donated computers with internet connection where they could reach out to their friends and remaining family back home as well as around the world through their own written blog.

Their monthly groceries are mostly provided by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Melaka State Council Project Fund as well as contribution from the surrounding population. While their basic necessities were currently met, they do still need some funds to pay for traveling and medical cost for treatment that the children still need before they could get better.