Friends of Suai Covalima

For over 20 years we have had a formal commitment to support our friendship with Suai, Covalima East Timor.

Since 2000, we have had a formal commitment to support our friendship between communities in Port Phillip and Suai, Covalima in East Timor.

Through the Friends of Suai/Covalima, we are doing all we can to assist the people of Suai in their efforts to claim a new future. In the spirit of friendship, people from both communities are working together to create opportunities for development throughout the district of Covalima.

Support and funding are provided to the Covalima Community Centre in Suai to implement community development programs, with a strong focus on education, health, gender equality, livelihoods and sustainability.

To keep up to date with the latest Friends of Suai/Covalima news, follow the Friends of Suai on Facebook or subscribe to the e-newsletter via Get involved, donate or contact us links below.

Successful International Women's Day (IWD) fundraising initiative

In recognition of IWD and the theme of digital literacy, Friends of Suai committed to raising funds for a pilot program for 15 women to attend a digital literacy training program at the Community Centre in Suai. The 15 women will be members of the Rural Women’s Development Program livelihood groups and local Village Councils The women will learn basic skills to use Word, Excel and access the internet. They need support for transport and accommodation costs to undertake this training.

With your help, we raised $1,050 so that 15 rural women can attend a 30 hour digital literacy training program.

Developing digital literacy can have profound impacts for Timorese women and their families. Experience has shown that women who generate income will spend this on their family and further education. It is not uncommon for an employed person to support their children, parents and siblings.

Donations to Friends of Suai programs and initiatives by credit card can be made on our Give Now appeal page.

For information on other ways to donate, or for more information about the program, please contact the Friends of Suai Covalima Coordinator via the Get involved, donate or contact us links below.

Women at the Covalima Community Centre in Suai participating in leadership training.

2021/22 Annual Report

The Friends of Suai/Covalima 2021/22 Annual Report provides information on the activities and achievements of the friendship, including updates on all programs delivered through the Covalima Community Centre in Suai.

The link to view the report can be accessed from the bottom of this page. To request a hard copy, contact the Friends of Suai/Covalima Coordinator via the 'Get involved, donate or contact us' link below.

Scholarship appeal

Donations are needed for education programs and to fund new and ongoing scholarships for the 2022 and 2023 school year. The scholarship program encourages gender equity and focuses on students from disadvantaged families from many villages and sub-districts within Covalima district.

Donations by credit card can be made on our Give Now appeal page.

For information on other ways to donate, or for more information about the program, please contact the Friends of Suai Covalima Coordinator via the Get involved, donate or contact us links below.

COVID-19 response

Friends of Suai/Covalima are assisting our friends and colleagues in Covalima district Timor-Leste during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

We are supporting the Covalima Community Centre with their work to share clear and simple information with communities on handwashing and hygienic practices. Basic infographics from the World Health Organisation have been widely distributed to schools, villages and public venues. The staff are also visiting remote communities to share information in their local dialects.

The Community Centre has also been invited to join the district government COVID-19 taskforce and through this collaboration, government and NGOs are working together to continue to share updated information with all villages in Covalima.

The Centre are doing their best with their limited resources. With no running water and limited access to soap in many villages, the team are being innovative and proactive so that they can role model behaviours at the Centre and embed health training in all training activities.

For more information, or to make a donation to this program, contact the Friends of Suai/Covalima Coordinator via the Get involved, donate or contact us links below.

Get involved, donate or contact us

Friends of Suai Covalima is a relationship that goes beyond the usual concept of financial aid. It connects the community in the City of Port Phillip with the community of Suai in order to enrich and enhance the lives of all involved. The participation of the community is key to the success of the friendship.

Get involved by volunteering your time, making a donation, attending our events and joining our mailing list.

Contact the Friends of Suai Covalima Coordinator.

Online: Online Services
Phone: 03 9209 6598

Further information

Our longstanding relationship with the coastal town of Suai in Covalima district, Timor-Leste was formed in response to the community’s concern around the mass destruction and killings that occurred after the vote for independence in 1999. In response to this concern, a friendship was developed between the Port Phillip and Covalima communities.
This friendship builds upon close links forged between our two nations from the time of the Second World War. This enduring relationship is reflected in the many important exchanges between people in our two communities, with people from Suai visiting our city, and our local community members visiting Timor-Leste to share experience and learn from one another.
The concept for the relationship emerged in 1999 when members of the Port Phillip community and Council expressed a desire to:
- Establish a friendship relationship with a small coastal town or village for a period of ten years
- Develop community links between the City of Port Phillip and the identified community in Timor-Leste
- Coordinate fundraising activities to support that community
- Share the skills of Council staff
On 31 January 2000 the establishment of a partnership with the town of Suai was approved. Timor-Leste's leader, Xanana Gusmao, visited the City of Port Phillip on 4 May 2020 and along with the City of Port Phillip Councillors, signed the following Statement of Friendship:
"In a spirit of friendship and cooperation between the citizens of Suai and the Citizens of Port Phillip, this Statement of Friendship sets out our understanding and intent. We, the signatories of this statement, affirm the development of a ten-year relationship between the elected representatives of Suai and Port Phillip, based on friendship and mutual respect.
The fundamental principle of this agreement is to recognise and promote the right of East Timorese people and the residents of Suai to manage their own destiny. We agree to work together to achieve this end, whilst respecting each other’s cultural heritage and customs."
The Friendship was formally extended for a further ten years in 2010 and then again in 2020.

Newsletters

Annual reports

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2020-25 revised 2022 (3.3 MB)