In 2008, The Wiggles held a profit live performance for Timor-Leste. Now, greater than 15 years later, the group – identical vibrant skivvies, not fairly the identical band, although equally liked – has frolicked within the nation seeing firsthand how the funds raised are supporting youngsters and their communities.
Throughout a visit with UNICEF Australia earlier this yr, Blue Wiggle Anthony Area, Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins, Pink Wiggle Caterina Mete and Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie, not solely witnessed among the instructional, sanitation and gender equality applications developed by the humanitarian organisation, in addition they frolicked doing what they do greatest – dancing, singing and taking part in with youngsters, in fact.
(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
“English actually wasn’t spoken, hardly in any respect by the youngsters,” Blue Wiggle Anthony mentioned of the group’s go to to a Faculty Readiness Program close to Dili the place the children spoke Tetum. “So how did we talk with them? By way of music and thru actions.”
This system, one among many funded by UNICEF alongside sanitation and hygiene initiatives, is at the moment being applied in over 70 colleges throughout the nation with the goal of serving to youngsters transition to massive college, and keep there.
(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
In response to the organisation, solely 29% of youngsters in Timor-Leste are enrolled in preschool, partly as a consequence of entry points, making the transition to Grade 1 troublesome, pushing up grade repetition charges in later years, and rising college drop out charges too.
“I’ve bought two little ladies and I do know that they’ll be going to preschool, and I by no means thought that wouldn’t be an choice. So, to see it firsthand right here, it was fairly confronting,” Pink Wiggle Caterina mentioned. “But additionally, on the opposite aspect of issues, it’s pretty to see UNICEF has stepped in and is making it accessible for extra households and youngsters to attend.”
(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
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(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
(Picture: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
Throughout their go to, the Wiggles additionally stopped by a Women Empowered Program which helps younger girls subjected to violence construct self-confidence and life abilities. In response to UNICEF, 3 in 10 females aged 15-19 skilled bodily violence within the final 12 months. Many instances happen at residence or at college, and sometimes go unreported.
Yellow Wiggle Tsehay praised the women she met: “They have been so robust, so, so empowered. The work that UNICEF has carried out to assist them be snug, discuss these items, realise what’s okay and what’s not okay, and have the ability to develop as girls in Timor-Leste, that’s completely stunning.”
The Wiggles have been Ambassadors for UNICEF Australia since 2008.
(Characteristic Picture Credit score: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
