Hundreds of primary school children in Timor-Leste now have access to a free digital library for the first time to help them improve their reading skills.

ChildFund Timor-Leste and our partner Library for All have introduced the digital library, stored on tablets, to more than 600 students in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities in Manatuto municipality. This project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Students from Grade 1 to Grade 3 can choose from 130 titles, including stories written by local authors in Tetun and developed by Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Education.

School co-ordinator Engracia from Beboro Primary says the digital library provides students with a diverse range of age-appropriate reading materials that they would otherwise not be able to access.

“At our school the children have read the same books many times,” she says. “They have been needing new ones, and there have not been enough books for every child to read at the same time. They usually have to take turns.”

The new technology has been welcomed by students and teachers, who were trained on how to use the and manage the library at the start of July.

Grade 3 student Paula says: “I am happy because we can read more stories together.”

Nine-year-old Baltazar, who is also in Grade 3, has enjoyed choosing from a variety of books to read. “I like the stories and pictures; they’re good,” he says.