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Prior to the establishment of the Learning Centre for Youth, the area had a powerful gang presence with a lack of education.
The centre's patron is His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao the former President and Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste.
The Centre employs 8 Timorese staff and focuses on bringing the community together to build trust and strong relationships. It also focuses on gender equality and promoting respect for women.
English classes are offered by the centre has over 120 children enrolled. Each year there are many children on the waiting list.
The gymnasium has now over 700 members with the attendance of four rival gangs from the area that have forged strong friendships and bonds, creating their own "Plus Fitness Family" group who frequently meet to clean up the city!
A women's sewing group with five local women has been employed to make items sold to offset some of the Centre's costs. They started by making sewing bags, aprons and school uniforms, and now they are sewing Covid-19 face masks.
The Rotary E-Club of Brindabella has supported the Centre through fundraising and District Grants for material and industrial sewing machine equipment enabling the Centre to continue making products to sell.