Lukas and Kristina volunteering in Timor-Leste

Ahisaun Foundation, Timor-Leste

Ahisaun provides housing, outreach and training for young people with disabilities. Ahisaun works out of a house in Comoro, Dili, the capital of East Timor. Currently 14 young people live in the house (active members), supported by three volunteers. Ahisaun also supports many disabled youth in the community (passive members).

Their house is also used as a training centre for both its active and passive members. Ahisaun has recently undergone expansion, and for the first time they have a place that they own. Ahisaun recently opened a new facility with a residential capacity for 28 members (both male and female) as well as two carers. The organisation has also acquired two lots of agricultural land, each a short drive from Dili.

Senor Mario Cardoso, the Director of Ahisaun Foundation, placed a request with Palms Australia for volunteers to work as a Financial Administrator amd Project Manager mentoring local staff and volunteers to improve their capacity to manage Ahisaun's projects, including developing accounting practices, reporting to donors and building and managing relationships within Timor-Leste and globally.

Lukas and Kristina

Palms Australia recruited Kristina Gunawan and Lukas Rajnoch to meet Ahisaun's requests for volunteers.

Kristina is a qualified CPA, with experience as an accountant in public, private and community sectors. Most recently she has worked at Calvary John James Hospital and Care Australia. She has experience developing procedures and guidelines in accordance with accounting standards and government policy. Kristina speaks Bahasa Indonesia, one of the most common languages in Timor-Leste.

Lukas has Project Management and Policy experience in the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, including designing, developing and managing a variety of initiatives for the benefit of businesses and community organisations. He has been responsible for managing stakeholder relationships and has experience in staff development and training.

Lukas and Kristina will build upon the development work of previous Palms volunteers at Ahisaun, Michael and Cheree Flanagan and Daniel Gilfillan, and continue Palms' relationship with Ahisaun.