Peace Corps Volunteers helped coordinate a series of fund raising activities to achieve this purpose. As a result, the kinder in Gleno and Hatolia are going to be rehabilitated this year
Community Self Help Program In Gleno
April 1, 2003
The New Zealand Aid funded US$10,000 for the rehabilitation of Kinder Garden in Gleno. A Community Management Committee, under the auspice of the District Administration of Ermera, was set up to manage the fund.
A group of parents in Gleno were very happy that the community was provided with the fund necessary to rehabilitate a Kinder, which was burnt in 1999. The parents volunteered their time last weekend to clean up the site of the kinder, hoping to contribute to their children’s education.
The funding was an outcome of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation’s Friendship City Projects. The District of Ermera has established a Friendship City relation with the City of Casey in Victoria, Australia. It was identified, through a visit last year; by the Friends of Ermera from the City of Casey that one of the priorities for Ermera District is the rehabilitation of kinder throughout the district. In response to this, the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in conjunction with the Friends of Ermera, City of Casey, District Affairs Office, Ermera District Office and the Peace Corps Volunteers, coordinated a series of fund raising activities to achieve this purpose. As a result, the kinder in Gleno and Hatolia are going to be rehabilitated this year.
"As we all know that all of East Timorese needs support from other countries, and Gleno have a good chance because of the support of our friends in the City of Casey. This program is very important for the future of East Timorese children. We already talk about this program before with our friends from other country like Australia and News Zealand. At the moment New Zealand has given us the fund to repair and rebuild this school for our children. I hope in the future the relationship will improve more to help in other sectors as well", said Mr Victor dos Santos, District Administrator of Ermera.
"Everybody is contributing in whatever way that they can, parents are voluntarily doing the work around the school, New Zealand is donating money, we are all working together, to benefit the children, our future leaders." Mr Martinho Soares, head of the Village Halimor said.
Mr Joao Sarmento, is one of the parents donating his time to clean up the site to get it ready for rebuilding. This school was burnt during the conflict in 1999. "We will take care of this school when it is fixed" said Mr. Sarmento
"This donation makes me so happy. I want a good education for my children; I want a good school, a good learning environment for my children. I want my children to have better opportunities than I did," said Mr. Joao
"We feel happy because New Zealand wants to give us money to repair this kinder garden that has been destroyed in 1999. We held a meeting with all parents and asking for their help to clean up the site before the reconstruction. They are all happy to help as they know that this program is very useful for their children’s future", said Ms. Santina Alves Coordinator for this program.
Mr. Jason Stowe, the key person to facilitate the Gleno and Hatolia kinder projects, said it is important on how to encourage the community in Gleno in order to organize the project as well as write the proposal and make the coordination with donators. Mr. Stowe is a Peace Corps volunteer who acts as advisor for the District Administration and the community on the projects formation and implementation.
"This project is very important for the Timorese people because they desire a good education for their children. This program was financially supported by the New Zealand Government with the amount of US$10,000 and also get support from the City of Casey in Victoria, Australia, such as school furniture and classroom materials", said Mr. Jason
Friendship City arrangement is another example of how the people of Timor-Leste benefit from Foreign Affair’s trips abroad. All 13 districts of Timor-Leste have Friendship Arrangements with cities from all over the world.
Mr. Abel Guterres, the Head of Australia and New Zealand Desk of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, initiated the Friendship Cities Arrangement between Timor-Leste and Australia in early 2000. The arrangement aims to build on historical links between Timor-Leste and Australia that date back to World War II, to develop friendships, and create peace and security in our neighbourhood.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, GPA Building #1, Ground Floor, Dili, East Timor
