Venilale facts for kids
Venilale (once called Vila Viçosa) is a town in East Timor. It's about 30 kilometers south of Baucau. Venilale is also the main town of the Venilale Administrative Post, which is like a local government area.
The name Venilale comes from the Kairui-Midiki words brini lale, which mean 'cold inside'. During the time when Portugal ruled East Timor, people from Baucau would go up to the mountains of Venilale to escape the heat. You can still see examples of old Portuguese buildings in the town today.
Exploring Venilale: Fun Things to Do
Venilale has always been a popular place to visit, even when the Portuguese were in charge. People love it for its cooler weather and beautiful nature.
Some cool places to see include:
- Hot springs: Natural pools of warm water.
- A natural bridge: A bridge made by nature itself.
- Escola do Reino de Venilale: This is a striking old school building.
- Japanese caves: These caves were built by Japanese soldiers during World War Two. Later, they were used as hiding spots by FRETILIN freedom fighters during the time Indonesia occupied East Timor.
When you explore these places, it's important to be respectful. Some sites are special to the local culture. Always ask for permission from the local people and the Xefe suku (village chief) before you go exploring.
There's a tourism information center in the old police station. It's a cool building that stands high up in the middle of town. At the center, you can find guides who can translate for you and show you around. They can also help you get permission to visit certain areas.
If you need a place to stay, the tourism center can help. You can also arrange accommodation directly with the Salesian Madres. They run a guest house at their secondary college, called Eskola Teknika Profesional Santa Maria Mazzarello.
How People Make a Living in Venilale
Most people in Venilale live in rural areas and work as farmers. They grow crops like rice in special terraced fields. These fields are often worked using water buffalo, or sometimes with machines like rotary hoes or tractors.
Other crops grown here include:
- Bananas
- Peanuts
- Coffee
- Copra (dried coconut meat)
- Corn
- Different kinds of vegetables
Farmers also raise animals such as pigs, goats, chickens, and a few cows and horses. Most families grow just enough food for themselves, which is called "subsistence farming." They sometimes face challenges like not growing enough food, not having easy access to clean water, or having trouble getting their crops to markets.
Venilale has a market twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There's also another market on Fridays in the nearby village of Bercoli. These markets are very important for the town's economy and social life. Many people walk for hours to bring their produce to sell. Besides the markets, there are a few small family-owned shops called kiosks that sell different goods.
Schools and Churches in Venilale
In Timor-Leste, schools are run by both the government and the Catholic Church. The Venilale area has fourteen primary schools. Four of these are public (government-run), and ten are Catholic schools.
Secondary education in Timor-Leste is split into two parts:
- Junior high schools: These are for classes 1 to 3, which is like Years 7 to 9 in some other countries. Venilale has four junior high schools (three public and one Catholic).
- Senior high schools: These are also for classes 1 to 3, similar to Years 10 to 12. Venilale has one public senior high school and a Catholic senior technical school.
If students want to continue their education after high school, there are college courses available in Baucau. There is also a university in the capital city, Dili.
