2021 Lukluk (VSA) - Magazine - Page 10
VSA Volunteer, Liria Da Silva
Upcycling and Recycling in Timor Leste
Adversity drives innovation. That was the case when border closures
stopped volunteers from travelling into Timor Leste. With assignments
to complete, and no Kiwi volunteers available, VSA’s Timor-Leste
Programme Development Officer Cindy Mendonca drew on her
personal experience.
Cindy had spent four years
studying in New Zealand on a
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade development scholarship. As
an active alumna she was aware
that students were coming home
looking for ways to use their New
Zealand experience and education.
VSA Timor-Leste Programme
Development Officer Cindy Mendonca
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The match was a good one. In
2021 five Timorese students were