Empower youth, women, and local workers with essential English and digital skills

The Cooperativa de Credito Union Initiative Haburas Comunidade, through Palms International Volunteering, is seeking a Basic English and Computing Teacher to support youth, women, farmers, and local government employees. Your role will help participants gain the skills they need to pursue further education, secure employment, and strengthen their performance in existing roles.

This is a meaningful opportunity to support community driven development in a rural region of Timor Leste.

What you’ll do

First few weeks – Learn, observe, and build trust

• Learn local language, cultural norms, and community context with support from a local mentor.
• Observe existing practices and document strengths and community assets.
• Avoid recommending changes during this period; focus on understanding why things are done the way they are.

Ongoing responsibilities

– Teach, mentor, and build capacity

• Design, plan, deliver, and evaluate English and computing training for youth, women, and local employees.
• Collaborate with local facilitators to develop simple, practical teaching resources.
• Use interactive, culturally sensitive, age appropriate teaching methods.
• Mentor local facilitators in planning, organising, and managing learning sessions.
• Prepare progress reports and support evaluation of program impact.
• Document stories of change and evidence of participant learning.

What you’ll bring

• Qualifications or experience in teaching English to youth or young adults.
• Native English speaker with strong communication skills.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and basic computer functions.
• Experience working with youth with limited language skills.
• Program design, delivery, and assessment skills.
• Patience, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity.
• Commitment to serve for 12 months with limited resources.

What you’ll gain

• Deep cultural immersion in a rural Timorese community.
• The opportunity to strengthen education and employment pathways for young people.
• Professional experience in cross cultural teaching and community development.
• Contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).

About the Cooperativa de Credito Union Initiative Haburas Comunidade (SHC) The HSC is a community driven credit union in Vemasse that focuses on strengthening sustainable livelihoods by empowering farmers, youth, women, and local workers through training, collaboration, and practical skills development.

About Palms International Volunteering For 65 years, Palms International Volunteering has supported skilled Australians to live and work alongside communities in the Asia-Pacific. Our volunteers don’t ‘fix’ problem - they build relationships, strengthen local capacity, and walk with communities striving for dignity and opportunity. These are ‘solidarity placements’. Accommodation and a small stipend is provided, as well as preparation and ongoing support.

The focus is on living as a true neighbour to learn, and to establish an effective mentoring role. This is the basis for lasting capacity building in the community. It is also a chance for you to step out of the rush and reconnect with what matters through a deep cultural immersion and genuine community relationships.