Val Bland's report from Timor-Leste
Val Bland recently visited Timor-Leste with two hats, one being the Canberra Friends of Dili (CFD) and the other Rotary. CFD is a small organisation that supports projects in a small way and creates a friendship between Canberra and Dili. The project CFD supported this year was a school in Dili by providing finance to start a Permatil Garden. Funding came from a $2,300 aid grant from the A.C.T. Government and some fund raising by CFD. The garden allows the teaching by volunteers, who wish to pursue an agricultural career, to teach primary school age children to grow their own fruit and vegetables, cook it, and also market and sell it to make an income. There is still a lot of poverty in Timor-Leste.
A Rotary project we visited again was Rotarian Libby Bleakley’s Police Community Police Club (PCYC) in Dili. Three years ago when we saw it, the gymnasium was two months from being officially opened. This time, it was fully functioning with a group in training. The centre includes English and computing classes, sewing classes and support for women, and support for youth unemployment which is still up around 70%. We saw the Little Fokupers a centre for early learning, the project of Gordana Morphett from the Rotary Club of Gungahlin, and also Klibur Domin, a medical clinic with a rehabilitation centre and a wing for patients with tuberculosis, supported by the Rotary Club of Mt Gambier in South Australia.
August 30, 1999 was the vote for independence with this year being the 20 anniversary. 78.5% voted in favour of independence which was announced on 4 September 1999 followed by some of the worst atrocities after 24 years of Indonesian occupation. We visited the Max Stahl archives where they are digitalising historical documents and news articles. After losing about 30% of the population and 70% of their infrastructure during the Indonesian population, it will still take many years to recover. Large international companies are now building roads on the northern shores now which will make a large difference. Central power was put through to the eastern regions about 4 or 5 years ago.
Other projects we visited were two English schools, the Alola Foundation, the Don Bosco Technical School at Fatumaca, Baucau where past Rotarian Tony Jurd from Canberra teaches electronics for a few weeks each year. Other places visited were: The Renaissance Museum, the Arte Moris artwork, Atauro and Jaco Island, Cristo Rei after climbing 584 steps, and the Rotary Club of Dili plus the Xanana Gusmao Reading Room again.
The country areas are still very much third world, lacking in many tourism comforts that we expect and take for granted, such as hot water. One place we had to move on before the second night as the drains were blocked, therefore no water available. One hotel had a new modern wing built but half way through shower and shampoo, the water suddenly stopped. Was there any answer on the phone reception?
Regards
Val Bland
An Elders Hut
Permatil Garden (with children watching)