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In the October 2001 submission, “Community Education in East Timor,” Br Dan (founder of the Edmund Rice Ministry in East Timor) stated that through community consultation, the people expressed “their desire for opportunities to advance their human development, to enhance their own capacity as individuals and as responsible village communities”.
Later Dan stated the Main Goal was to “undertake formation opportunities across the broad community through community education, resourcing schools, community rebuilding, economic development and environmental care”. The highlights stated would indicate significant progress towards these goals.
Comunidade Edmund Rice (CER) is still taking the lead role in many of the activities but progress towards independent action, although slower than first hoped, is noticeably happening now. Previously, there was no in depth knowledge of the situation eg transportation costs are probably three times what might have been “budgeted”.
At this time A CER Website was developed. Data is now out of date but it still gives some idea of the scope of the work, the living conditions and the landscape. It can be seen at CER Website
In 2005 the cost of vehicles repairs and fuel was approximately US$25500. This may be taken as about average. CER obtained a vehicle from the Australian Army before they left Dili which was a blessing as for a major part of the time at least one of the vehicles was in for repairs. The roads are very bad and cause regular major damage to the vehicles. Having said that, the main reason for going to these villages was their isolation through transport difficulties. Comunidade Edmund Rice has had a great influence on the lives of the people in the five villages in which they work. This influence has extended over ten years. CER started to work with the people to provide the basic necessities of life - water, food and medical services. It also provided clothing and other items which were not readily available.
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Later Bill worked on the lighting project which provided every house in the area with a small light powered by a battery which was charged from a solar panel. During all this time CER took an interest in educational projects for both adults and children. Many volunteers have worked in the local schools. More recently Bill has hired teachers from the local population to teach in the Railaco area, some in the government schools and some (where there is no effective government school) in schools built and managed by CER. These have helped to set a standard for education and have proved very popular with both children and parents. With the people relatively safe and able to survive, CER has branched into projects for the longer term development of the area's economy. As the area gains almost all of its cash income from coffee, one project is to help get a better return for the people from their coffee crop. With the assistance of the Terrace Timor Network (TTN) markets are being found in Australia for the Timor coffee which is marketed under the name of “Just Coffee” and returns a "Just" price to the growers. This same group is working with CER to employ the Timorese women to make use of their skills by making cards which are sold through the network of outlets in Australia. These two projects alone are making a significant improvement to the economy of the area. So that what started out providing what was needed for survival is now opening doors to markets which better enable the people to provide for themselves. |
Bill is also organizing training for the local farmers in how to prune the coffee trees. Farmers who require every tree to produce just to survive are understandably reluctant to prune and thus lose income for a year or two. Short term loss for long term gain is not an option for those who cannot afford any loss at all. The bonus money from the Just Coffee sales will be paid at the time of next year’s harvest, making up for any loss due to pruning. This is a brilliant way of achieving the long term gain while avoiding the short term loss.
Sally, a CER volunteer, is working on a project which will open more doors for employment for the young. The Youth Vocational Training Centre at Gleno is not a CER project, as such, but Sally's influence is indeed significant in the setting up of the project. Sally is looking after the handover from Norwegian Refugee Council of their building and work at Gleno with young men and women in trade preparation in Tourism, Hospitality, Agriculture and Administration. There is no lack of "Universities" in Dili but there are few jobs for graduates. This will offer practical courses, more like a Tafe, to prepare and skill young people for the work which is available. The young people will not have to go to Dili but will be able to live with their families while completing these courses. A number of Edmund Rice Education Australia schools have recognised this project, not unlike their own Years 11 and 12 trade oriented courses, as being very valuable. St Edmund’s Ipswich, St Patrick’s Shorncliffe and St Laurence’s South Brisbane have promised financial support.
Many young Timorese have enrolled for the first intake and are anxiously waiting the result of their applications. From the photos I provide here you will notice that this is very well setup for the task at hand. The building is new, well equipped and clean. This is far from typical of what I saw of educational establishments during my time in East Timor.
While much of this work has been done by the small number of long -term staff, much has also been accomplished by a constant stream of short -term volunteers who give freely of their time and talents. Their stays range between three and twelve months. They take responsibility for one or other on the many projects undertaken by CER. There have also been frequent visits from groups which visit to do a specific task, usually building or lighting projects. You can read about one such group at http://www.edmundrice.org/My-visit-to-East-Timor. In fact this short passage gives a very clear overview of all that is going on in the one week of the author's visit.
A Report was written in 2005 after five years of operation. Read the Report.
At the end of last year, 2009 Bill provided a list of achievements for the year. Read the List
Regular Articles:
News from CER East Timor
Reflections From East Timor
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