Report on a Visit to Timor-Leste

Mario Soares and Martinho dos Reis, Laulara CDO, advised that:

1. 
   the Laulara Birthing Centre was popular and well-used
   
2. 
   Government funded projects had recently been approved to provide the Centre with:
   

1. 
   an improved water supply system
   
2. 
   an additional birthing room at the rear of the current building.
   

It was agreed with Mario Soares that the external works proposed for funding by Friends of Aileu, and estimated to cost $US 11,000 (approximately $AU 14,650, with a total of $6,750 already in hand):

1. 
   could not be fully funded by Friends of Aileu during 2015, and possibly 2016, unless significant additional funding was obtained
   
2. 
   were outside the scope of any possible amendments to the Government funded works mentioned in 5.2 above
   
3. 
   were desirable to provide safer access and improved amenity, but could possibly be reduced in scope
   
4. 
   would be reassessed by the Municipal Administration’s PDID engineer/technician designers with a view to achieving the desirable improvements at a reduced estimated cost
   
5. 
   would be reconsidered later this year by the Aileu Relationship Commission in order to provide further advice to the Friends of Aileu Community Committee.
   

The Project Officer passed by Besilau on a number of occasions travelling between Dili and Aileu, including on Thursday 18 June with Olivia Laskowski, International Programs Manager for the Alternative Technology Association (ATA), and Simao Barreto, Manager of CNEFP, ATA’s Dili-based technical partner organisation.

All houses in Besilau visible from the main road, and most small roadside kiosks, appeared to be connected to the national power grid. Only a small number of the solar panels installed over five years ago as part of the Friends of Aileu - Alternative Technology Pilot Village Lighting Scheme were now visible from the road.



Besilau with most houses now connected to national electricity grid
6.2 Discussions

On 18 July the Project Officer, Olivia Laskowski (ATA), Simao Barreto (CNEFP) met in Aileu with Mario Soares and

• 
  Manuel Monis, Chief of Besilau Aldeia
  
• 
  Budiman Tilman, Besilau Village Lighting Scheme Committee Chair and
  
• 
  Augusto Tillman, Besilau Village Lighting Scheme Technician
  

1. 
   maintain community ownership of the scheme, their learning experiences and decision making responsibilities
   
2. 
   without seeking to attribute blame, to uncover what can be learnt from the development, operation and difficulties with this pilot lighting scheme, including with respect to social, technical, administrative, management and partnership issues
   
3. 
   prepare the way for a proposed audit, by CNEFP (supported by ATA) together with the Besilau community committee & technicians, of the condition of the installations provided as part of the scheme.
   

1. 
   wind up this pilot village lighting scheme and reassign any suitable Besilau VLS system components to another scheme elsewhere, or
   
2. 
   develop a means by which the Besilau VLS could be continued in a viable manner.
   

At the meeting it was confirmed that:

1. 
   the Committee had not been collecting the $US 2.00 monthly maintenance fee from the approximate 90 participating households since May 2011
   
2. 
   the Besilau technicians had maintained the householders installations only up until around May 20111 and with spare parts provided by ATA
   
3. 
   all householder contributions collected in the three years up until then, $US 1,400, had been retained in the Committee’s bank account with no withdrawals recorded.
   

It was established that the Besilau representatives believed:

1. 
   that approximately half the 90 solar lighting systems were currently inoperable – this needs to be checked as it may merely reflect their understanding of the situation from the previous ATA assessment conducted in May 2013
   
2. 
   an unknown number of the approximate 70 households connected to the grid may wish to continue operating a solar powered lighting system as a back-up system
   
3. 
   a further approximate 20 remote households were unlikely to be able to connect to the grid in the foreseeable future.
   

It was agreed that:

1. 
   the Chief of Besilau Aldeia and the Village Lighting Scheme Committee members and technicians would conduct initial community consultations and a preliminary audit to determine for each household:
   

1. 
   their access to grid power
   
2. 
   their preferences for abandoning or retaining a solar lighting system
   
3. 
   if wishing to retain a solar lighting system, their preferences on whether to do so either as individual households or as part of a re-established community scheme
   
4. 
   the condition of their existing solar installation
   

2. 
   this information would be provided to Mario Soares for consideration by the Aileu Relationship Commission at its next meeting, scheduled for September
   
3. 
   the Aileu Relationship Commission would seek confirmation of Government plans for grid connections in the Besilau area
   
4. 
   once the Besilau community had the opportunity to express their preferences through their elected representatives, Friends of Aileu proposes that CNEFP and ATA undertake a more detailed audit of the Besilau installations to be funded by Friends of Aileu – the previously estimated cost of this audit ($AU 633 ) is to reviewed following advice that it would take five days, and not the initially assumed 2 days, for a small CNEFP/Besilau technical team to visit each of the 90 households
   
5. 
   Friends of Aileu and the ATA would consider recommendations from the Aileu Relationship Commission in deciding whether to sponsor any further investment in the Besilau VLS or to reallocate unused VLS components to another scheme elsewhere
   
6. 
   any installations to be repaired or reinstated would be upgraded to the increased wattage and technical standards now used for ATA village lighting schemes, with funding anticipated being available from ATA’s own sources.
   

The Project Officer visited the Uma Ita Nian Parish Clinic on a number of occasions for discussions with Sister Susan Gubbins and local management and staff including Clinic Managers Doroteia da Silva and Felicadade Oliveira, including on 17 June with Ben Walta and the Ceres Global study tour group.

Sister Susan explained that:

1. 
   Sister Dorothy McGowan has recovered well from heart her operation, but following recent medical advice, would not now return to Timor-Leste
   
2. 
   Susan plans to continue guiding the Clinic towards local management during 2015 and then step back to function in more of an advisory role for 2016, after which she expected to be required to complete her assignment in Timor-Leste return to the United States
   
3. 
   Sister Julia Schideler and the recently arrived Sister Juana may continue their roles supporting Aileu schools and young people until the end of 2016 or slightly longer
   
4. 
   Sister Rosalva Sandi wished to continue working with the Aileu Resource and Training Centre as required to complete the ARTC’s transition to full local management, and expected her posting would need to extend beyond 2016
   
5. 
   with the recent reduction in funding, Uma Ita Nian’s programs had been consolidated to focus on things not done by others, with the health motivator, family planning and trauma counselling services discontinued, and the following forming the Clinic’s core programs:
   

1. 
   clinical services, with an emphasis on mothers and babies
   
2. 
   rehabilitation programs
   
3. 
   support for the St Francis Assisi Disability workshop, which was also on the path to operating independently of the Clinic
   

6. 
   the St Francis Assisi workshop has funding for activities including manufacture of disability ramps for installation at people’s homes
   
7. 
   major donor Misereor had provided bridging finance for 2014-2015 and was soon to consider the Uma Ita Nian Clinic’s budget proposal for 2015-2016 and beyond
   
8. 
   the Uma Ita Nian Clinic was seeking advice on other funding sources including through Inge Lempe who is doing some work for Misereor in Dili, Florentino Sarmento, CEO of Timor Aid, and the Fred Hollows Foundation, Dili.
   

It was agreed that:

1. 
   Friends of Aileu and partners, including Merri Community Health Services, would continue to offer support for the Clinic, which was especially welcomed through its period of transition to local management
   
2. 
   it was desirable to increasingly involve Doroteia da Costa as a point of contact for friendship communications
   
3. 
   seeking to support an Australian Volunteers posting with the Clinic was not appropriate at present due to funding limitations, the desire for local staff to develop their own ways of managing with less input from Sister Susan and the availability of Sister Julia Schideler to mentor Clinic staff with whom she already had a good relationship
   
4. 
   Friends of Aileu would discuss with retired Dr Sam Ginsberg of Hurstbridge any possible replacements for his former support in the production of hearing aids for patients whose hearing condition is assessed by Doroteia
   
5. 
   CERES Global would work with Friends of Aileu where it could to support the Uma Ita Nian Clinic.
   

The Project Officer met with Rui Sarmento and Sister Susan Gubbins on a number of occasions at the Clinic and at Rui’s nearby house and demonstration garden and nursery, including:

• 
  on 10 June for site visits to Food Production Program activities
  
• 
  on 17 June with Ben Walta and the CERES Global study tour group.
  

1. 
   because of funding constraints the Food Production Program had been reduced in scope, including with the transfer of Juliano Alau from Rui’s program to coordinate production and sales at the St Francis Assisi Disability Workshop
   
2. 
   Friends of Aileu’s donation to date, $AU 3,000 from Merri Community Health Services, was highly appreciated
   
3. 
   the currently adopted program budget of $US 8,000-$US 9,000 in each of 2015 and 2016, with the current year’s funding now covered so that the additional funds raised at the Friends of Aileu Music and Comedy Night would not be needed for 2015
   
4. 
   Rui had completed his Agriculture Degree studies but the UNTL had yet to organise graduation, Rui had spent some time on professional development at Fuiloro Agriculture College and it was planned to send him to a two-day International Conference on Appropriate Technology in Bandung, Java in October
   
5. 
   Rui coordinated his work with complementary activities and programs undertaken by Aileu Resource and Training Centre (see 10 below), NGOs such as World Vision and the Ministry of Agriculture
   
6. 
   Rui would be interested in cooperating with the Aileu Science and Technology Institute should they develop a demonstration permaculture garden (see 11 below).
   

The site visits to Food Production Program activities were to:

• 
  a government built vulnerable persons housing estate of some 45 residences in Suco Malere , situated on a deforested plateau overlooking Aileu town
  
• 
  a farming community in prime agriculture land in Suco Seloi Craik, near the Seloi Lake.
  

1. 
   flued fuel efficient stoves, constructed with a mix of clay, gravel and rice husks
   
2. 
   production vegetable gardens
   
3. 
   chicken and pig housing, for fattening and breeding
   
4. 
   simple refuse disposal arrangements
   
5. 
   erosion control plantings.
   

The Project Officer met with ARTC Director Quita Xavier Pereira, and staff members including Joanino dos Reis, Sabino Lere and Anna Maria, on a number of occasions, including on 17 June with Ben Walta and the CERES Global study tour group.

Quita outlined the ARTC’s organisation and programs confirming that:

• 
  Sister Rosalva was expected to return from the United States in mid-August
  
• 
  Natalia Ximenes was expected to return from Indonesia later this year after completing her Accounting Degree under the staff development program
  
• 
  Joanino’s study plans are still uncertain due to his current requirement for continued medical treatment.
  

• 
  refresh the prehistory exhibitions at the UNESCO museum at the Xanana Reading Room Dili and at the ARTC
  
• 
  provide additional teaching and learning resources
  
• 
  undertake training of interested school teachers, UNESCO and ARTC staff and youth volunteers on interpreting the materials.
  

It was agreed that:

1. 
   priorities for support from Friends of Aileu and partners for the remainder of 2015 included funding contributions for:
   

1. 
   the annual Science and Reading contest, already part funded by Asia Foundation, with additional funds required for the period August to October
   
2. 
   the annual Aileu Expo of local arts, crafts, and produce, with funds required for the period October-November
   

2. 
   advice of Joanino’s staff development program study plans would be provided as soon as possible
   
3. 
   ARTC would welcome the PrimeSCI visit in November
   
4. 
   the Project Officer and Ben Walta would develop a more detailed proposal for consideration by ARTC on potential partnerships activities including for the IT program.
   

The Project Officer met with ARTC agriculture program officer Joanino dos Reis staff member Sabino Lere on a number of occasions including:

• 
  9 June for site visits to agriculture program activities
  
• 
  17 June with Ben Walta and the CERES Global study tour group.
  

• 
  Joanino coordinated his work with complementary activities and programs undertaken by the Uma Ita Nian Clinic (see 8 above), NGOs such as World Vision and the Ministry of Agriculture
  
• 
  Joanino would be interested in cooperating with the Aileu Science and Technology Institute should they develop a demonstration permaculture garden (see 11 below).
  

The site visits were to:

• 
  a demonstration erosion control terrace and garden on parish land behind the Uma Ita Nian Clinic
  
• 
  the Suco Fahiria farming community across the river from Aisirimou, Aileu.
  

In Fahiria we inspected ARTC facilitated activities including cooperative efforts by the Fahiria and Manu Casa communities to establish:

1. 
   erosion control terracing which combined fruit and timber production plantings
   
2. 
   plantings to protect a spring water supplying water to the village.
   

Also in evidence in Fahiria were:

• 
  the Uma Ita Nian facilitated pig housing, fattening and breeding
  
• 
  some impressive results achieved under the World Vision Famer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Program which fosters the improved management of regrowth for erosion control, sustainable timber production and limited fire wood harvesting
  
• 
  the recently widespread development of simple plastic domed greenhouses for vegetable propagation and production, currently being promoted amongst farming communities through a number of government and NGO-lead programs.
  

ASTI is a potential partner for Friends of Aileu and CERES, including with respect to the ASTI request for support for a proposed permaculture education and demonstration garden. ASTI has also requested other support, such as provision of IT equipment, library and other education resources and educator development. An aim of the meetings and site inspections was to assess when and in what ways we could best support the permaculture garden project and other ASTI activities.

The Project Officer met with representatives of the Aileu Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) and its sponsoring NGO the Rai Husar Foundation, on a number of occasions including:

• 
  4 June, in Dili with ASTI Founders Abilio de Araujo (with Cardeno for DFAT as National Advisor for Capacity Building, Suco Development Program-PNDS) and Ego Lemos (Founder of PERMATIL and project officer at National Education Curriculum office) and Rai Husar Foundation Director Sr Jorge (National Statistics office, and qualified in agriculture)
  
• 
  with the CERES Global study tour group:
  

• 
  15 June at PERMATIL, Dili with Abilio de Araujo, Ego Lemos and Lachlan McKenzie (permaculture consultant at PERMATIL)
  
• 
  16 June in Aileu accompanied by Alex of Aileu Rotaract, visiting several potential sites for ASTI’s proposed demonstration permaculture garden:
  

• 
  ASTI’s future campus site at Hundolte on elevated land overlooking Mantane south of Aileu town
  
• 
  a farm near the river at Mantane, on the family land of one of the Aileu Rotaract members
  
• 
  government land on the main road in Aileu near the site of the Aileu Catholic primary and secondary schools, and the government secondary school
  
• 
  parish land opposite the Uma Ita Nian Clinic, adjacent to and higher than the government land
  

• 
  17 June with ASTI Academic Rector Augusto Mendonca and an ASTI Director Sr Baptista at:
  

• 
  ASTI’s temporary Aileu campus in Aileu town
  
• 
  visiting a school site in Suco Seloi Craik which is a proposed future ASTI campus and was proposed by Sr Augusto as a possible alternative site for a demonstration garden
  

• 
  22 June, in Dili with ASTI Founders Abilio de Araujo, Ego Lemos and Cesar Martins (manager at National Statistics office), and two Directors of Rai Husar Foundation and ASTI: Sr Marcelo (of the Technical Vocational Education office) and Sr Lucio (of the National Education Curriculum office).