International Relations
The Early Days
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Over the past decade, the seven other sub-districts of Covalima have benefitted through other organisations collaborating with the Friends of Suai on different projects.
The Rotary Club of South Melbourne secured half the funds in 2001 needed to refurbish two preschools in Salele, a sub-district.
In 2001 the Rotary Club of Balwyn donated a 4WD Land Cruiser to he Suai youth centre which has been a wonderful work horse and still going strong in 2010,. The trooper van could tell a million stories about the amazing programs and young people across Covalima .
In June 2002 IT Aid sent 10 computers to the Kovalima Students’ and Youth Association. Women’s magazine, Marie Claire, donated $5000 to women’s projects.
In 2003 in cooperation with the Covalima District Health Service, Suai Regional Hospital, SCC, The Rotary Club of Balwyn and Friends of Suai provided funding for a project focused specifically on providing food supplements to patients suffering from malnutrition over a 12 month period.
During a bad drought in 2006, the Municipal Council of Kiama donated $1500 worth of grain to Zumalai subdistrict.
Other on-going partners include the Alternative Technology Association (ATA), Infoxchange Australia, the International Women’s Development Agency, Elwood College, Jewish Aid Australia and the Carmelite Mission.
Intrepid Travel
Since 2003 Intrepid Travel have been conducting tourism to East Timor and when visiting Suai coordinate their visit with the Centro Communidade Covalima who make important community and economic connections especially to locate the beautiful weaving of Suai tais. Check out their website for up to date information for coming tours to East Timor. www.intrepidtravel.com
Projects
The Friends of Suai (FoS) program is evolving as the needs and priorities change in Suai itself. However, the underlying principles guiding the program have not changed:
- To support democracy and self-determination of the East Timorese community
- To assist community development in non-government sectors
- To assist the development of local government in Suai
Youth Centre
The Suai Youth Centre has been operational since early 2000. During this time they have established close relationships with many non government organisations (NGOs). These relationships have allowed them to facilitate a variety of projects that contribute to youth culture in Suai. Activities provided by the Youth Centre range from HIV Aids awareness in Suai and in the sub districts of coval Lima, peace camps, training and counselling for youth who have experienced torture and trauma to sporting events. Friends of Suai have been involved with the Youth Centre since early 2002. To join the social network and contribute, visit http://suaimediaspace.ning.com/
New Community Education Media Project for 2006
A community education media initiative at the Suai Youth Centre began in February 2006 supported by FoS providing audio visual and digital editing equipment. Local filmmaker, Jen Hughes conducted a 5 day workshop with five young woman and 2 young men undertaking basic computer, camera, sound, editing, and conceptual training.
Suai is a remote and isolated coastal town on the W Timor border and one of the poorer districts of East Timor. Community media is a simple and strategic way to provide education programs to illiterate communities, especially programs using local language and image, bringing together visuals and voice enabling people who cannot read to hear and see the picture directly on social issues like health, education and agriculture. It also provides an excellent opportunity for youth self-expression.
This program will develop in 2006 with further media training in partnership with SAHE media institute and OXFAM East Timor. In the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Youth Centre are keen to share their ideas and media expertise with the youth of Suai.
New Growth in Timor Leste - Re-afforestation Project
A plant nursery with 10,000 seedlings will be established in May 2006 in Suai with funds from friends of suai. Dangerous landslides prompted villages to request support for restoring their agriculture lands in the sub district of Maucater 2 hours from Suai. De-afforestation has resulted from both commercial and cultivation practices with trees being burned and cut down. The burning of land is intensely problematic due to dry season fires which regularly spread outside designated areas. The problem of erosion is further exacerbated by two rainy seasons, which can clear away all topsoil.
Native trees including fruit bearing varieties will be transplanted to protect topsoil and control erosion and resulting landslides. Villagers will also take part in an environmental education program looking at sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.
This project will employ 10 people in the nursery to raise trees and a further 10 labourers in the plantation phase. The project is supported by the local District Administration and will be monitored by the Suai Community Centre.
This is a pilot project which if successful can be replicated in other parts of the district experiencing similar environmental problems.
Womens Sewing Project
In February 2006 the Suai Community Centre, Commission endorsed the extension of the womens sewing project. A new design will establish the original women as trainers with an extended 3 month course. The SCC will assist the women to form a group from their own succo/village area which would enable the women to work cooperatively and develop business skills especially to make school uniforms in the future. The commission is also considering a womens literacy program to enhance the training for the women.
Support for young Ornorio
In the recent report it was brought to our attention that a young man Ornorio who was a survivor of a venomous snake bite was in need of a prosthetic limb. Friends of suai contacted a new organisation ASSERT which grew out of Cambodia Trust Cambodia trust now established in Timor Leste. ASSERT agreed to provide Onorio with a new limb and provide ongoing services for his condition. Jewish Aid Australia have agreed to provide ongoing education support for Onorio to ensure that his disability will not preclude him from receiving a good education.
Kobalima Students and Youth Association
Kobalima Students and Youth Association is made up of about 400 students from the Covalima district who are based at the various universities in Dili. friends of suai began forming a relationship with this organisation in May 2002 by supplying funding for a conference that was held in Suai. Since then the relationship has expanded to donations of computers and books and funding for a room in which to hold computer lessons and a library.
Pre School Project
Friends of suai has been working in conjunction with several international and local non government organisations (NGOs) in an attempt to gain funding for building materials for pre schools in the Suai district. Currently a combination of funding from friends of suai, Rotary South Melbourne and the Christian Children's Fund are working in combination to create two new pre schools in the Covalima District. Currently the specified pre schools are operating from private homes which greatly restricts the learning programs in these communities. Many successful examples of similar projects are available and encouraging. The buildings are expected to be completed in April 2004 and we are awaiting a further proposal outlines what educational equipment will be needed.
Food Relief for Suai
friends of suai in 2003 provided funding to the Ministry of Health for a three month food relief program targeting children under five years of age and pregnant women.
Tatoli Lia Murac
This local non government organisation (NGO) proposed a project to build walls for a local Suai primary school. There were no walls separating classrooms and students were easily distracted by other classes. This project funded the building of walls so that the quality of education can be improved. The project was completed in January 2004.
For more information on Friends of Suai, use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Friends of Suai.
