Project Fuan
Redefining Health for Communities in Timor-Leste
Project Fuan is an Overseas Community Involvement Project (OCIP) initiated by a dedicated group of healthcare students from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Launched in 2024, this project’s mission is to redefine health holistically by empowering communities in Timor-Leste and cultivating strong relationships with the local community. These objectives are accomplished using two main approaches: enhancing access to healthcare services and promoting health education for both children and adults. The success of these efforts relies on the support and collaboration of the local Timorese community. Therefore Project Fuan partners with schools and organizations to create impactful programs that encourage self-care and resilience.
During Project Fuan’s pilot trip from 20 July to 3 August 2025, the team reached over 150 individuals through mobile clinics, and more than 500 children and adolescents through health screenings and education sessions.
In collaboration with Loes Care Farm, a local organization established by Care Channels International to empower Timorese communities through healthcare, education, and livelihood programs, Project Fuan partners with their volunteer medical team to organize, assist and ensure the smooth operation of mobile clinics in two rural villages and an orphanage. These mobile clinics are a highly effective way to improve access to healthcare, delivering essential medical services directly to the underserved on an annual basis.
Acknowledging the limited health education resources in Timor-Leste, Project Fuan aims to make health knowledge accessible to both children and adults. This is achieved through partnerships with schools such as St. Paul Methodist School, a private institution that emphasizes holistic student development and academic excellence, and Shallom School, a local private school serving students from kindergarten to Grade 9 in the heart of Dili, the nation’s capital. Through these partnerships, we conduct interactive health education sessions for students and families on essential topics such as nutrition, hygiene, emotional well-being, and disease prevention.
By equipping children with essential knowledge and skills, Project Fuan aims to inspire a culture of self-care that extends to their families and communities. Through these efforts, the team hopes to empower Timorese individuals to take ownership of their health and redefine what it means to live well. By bridging the gap between healthcare knowledge and practice, Project Fuan strives to leave a lasting impact on the communities it serves.
If you share our vision of nurturing lifelong health and self-care in future generations, connect with Project Fuan to learn more and support our journey! Obrigado! (Thank you in Tetun, Timor Leste’s national language)
Email: projectfuan@gmail.com
Instagram: @project.fuan
Tiktok: @project.fuan
List of Overseas Projects
Starting Project Fuan was never in the cards for my time in university. But in a funny uno-reverse kind of way, I can’t imagine my uni experience without it now. This project taught me about life—about connecting with people, building a community, and realizing that sometimes the smallest things, like a short health education lesson or a simple screening session, can leave the biggest impact. I learned that helping others is also blessing ourselves, and that what feels small to us can mean the world to someone else. Though it was a bumpy journey, it was through these moments of care and learning that I made some of the best memories and core experiences that will stay with me long after university.
– Tan Shieh Jeanne, Project Director AY2024/2025
Starting Project Fuan with my friends has been one of the most transformative experiences of my nursing journey. From the very beginning, we aimed to redefine health in Timor-Leste, not just by providing medical aid but by empowering communities through knowledge and sustainable practices. Our journey was challenging at times, but these challenges helped me grow in empathy, adaptability, and resilience. Every health screening and lesson showed me how small acts of care can make a lasting difference and inspire communities to take charge of their own well-being. Project Fuan will always hold a special place in my heart. It taught me that while we may go to Timor-Leste hoping to help, we often return having received much more in return.
– Tisha Leong Yee Shyun, Vice Project Director AY2024/2025
