As indicated in our vision and mission statements, we and the people of Atabae are building a long lasting relationship. We are working with the community to establish self sustaining development in this currently quite poor area. We are determined to prevent the relationship creating a long term dependency on external assistance but recognise that self sufficiency may take many years and more resources than we have to offer.
On this page
Overview
FPET has identified its program areas, which cover all past, present and currently envisaged projects as:
- Education: This was consistently mentioned as a priority area and initially included primary school buildings and equipment, teachers (training & salaries), school fees, English classes, secondary school access (including boarding facilities), technical training facilities and trainers, university student fees.
- Health: This includes clinics, medical supplies, staff, training and possibly sanitation. More detail on this continuing high priority is provided below on this page.
- Water supply: This has been a high priority need that appears beyond our own resources but we have provided some assistance including rainwater tanks. Alternative providers are still being sought for the remainder of the problems identified in the FPET sponsored investigation and report by volunteer engineer, Graham Gloag.
- Community Development: This included plans for supply of hand tractors, other agricultural equipment and sewing machines. Fishing boat motors, livestock, sewing machines and funding for micro-credit has been supplied. While these items were provided we are now funding less of this equipment with more emphasis on skills training to facilitate sustainable development.
- Community: This included a proposed community centre/library building and equipment but the priority for this building has declined. Vehicles for basic transport needs and some expenditure for community social activities have been provided. The most expensive single item FPET has provided has been a 4WD vehicle for basic community transport needs.
- Relief: Funding has been supplied for food and essential items during emergencies and continues on a limited ongoing basis for the disadvantaged (eg widows, orphans, amputees).
- Youth: Sporting and musical equipment has been purchased. FPET supports various social and developmental activities organised by the Comoning Youth Association. This youth initiated group is very community minded and works hard to improve the community. The group seems to have greatly contributed to the calm in Atabae during times of unrest elsewhere in East Timor.
- Church: Funds were supplied to buy building materials, furnishings, supplies and other church related items but not recently.
- Travel: This includes the cost of some visits made to East Timor on behalf of FPET and visits from Atabae to Brisbane but most visits to East Timor are wholly or largely privately funded. Visits in both directions are seen as vital to growing the relationship.
Initially there was a need for emergency relief which was met with both goods and funding. Large quantities of clothing and some basic household equipment were provided from Australia. Subsequently, we have delivered aid mainly through funding so that goods can be purchased in East Timor if possible. We also devoted much of our funds to helping with the restoration and rebuilding of critically needed buildings including schools and chapels which are also used as community halls.
We currently think that the community health centre may be our last investment in community buildings as the basic needs are now being met or could be funded from other sources.
We see it as more important to focus on sustainable community development though the building up of skills within the community.
Soon after we rebuilt some schools we undertook to pay teacher salaries for these schools. This was always with the expectation that either the local church or government would take over this responsibility. Eventually this became quite an expense as the number of teachers increased over time. It was only due to the modest wages prevailing in East Timor that we could afford the expense but fortunately the government has accepted this responsibility and we are no longer paying teacher salaries.
Our main activities now can be summarised as:
- Supporting our PALMS volunteers and their team to continue their programmes of Community Health and Community Development in Atabae
- Supporting youth by funding teaching and trade scholarships and encouraging the activities of the local Comoning Youth Association.
Infant mortality and child health problems continue to be major health issues although some improvement is being achieved. Infant mortality per 1000 live births is reported to have decreased from 88 in 2001 to 49 in 2004 but rose again to 61 in 2005. The latest UN figure we have noted is 55. Infant health is obviously still a big problem.
Margaret Hall has been able to initiate a number of much needed proactive community health programs, especially for mothers, infants and the primary school children. Margaret has coordinated well with other health professionals and arranged training for locals who have volunteered to participate in the community health work.
The opening of the new Community Health Centre building in Atabae in August 2008 was another major milestone for improved health care services in the area. It has led to even more involvement of others from Bairo Pite Clinic and elsewhere for the provision of additional health services.
FPET members were extremely grateful for the grant from GRM International to help finance the expanding health program for a year from late 2008. This additional money (US$30,000) comes at a critical time to facilitate the expansion of the program across the subdistrict and into some other areas.
Health services now being provided include:
- preventive programs covering ante-natal, infant health, hearing, school visits and assessment of students health, general health issues affecting women, men and the elderly;
- therapy programs for special needs babies and infants;
- blood testing eg for tuberculosis and malaria;
- therapy for fine and gross motor problems;
- education on public health issues such as water supply quality and sanitation; and
- home visiting to complement the above services.
The main thrust of the program remains to train local people to lead and conduct these services so they are sustainable into the future with much less external support. The early trainees have progressed extremely well and are now very competent team members and leaders.
Many Atabae health problems are associated with the often limited and poor quality water supplies. David Hall has been working with the community to seek solutions to the water supply problems and has recently been introducing rainwater tanks at selected sites. David and Jose have also been looking at sanitation problems, especially at Damlaran.
Given the majority of the population are teenagers or younger, it is obvious that these younger people are a major part of the future potential of the country. As increasing numbers leave school with limited employment prospects every effort has to be made to educate them well for becoming effective contributors to the economy and assist them in making that contribution. Many of the recent difficulties have arisen through the lack of prospects for the younger generations now looking for a fulfilling life.
Education is generally accepted as essential to achieving effective economic development within the country. While FPET has previously done a great deal to assist with provision of schooling in Atabae subdistrict, the major responsibilities for schooling are now being taken over by the government. FPET continues to offer scholarships to encourage youth to undertake training for the occupations required to help the development of the local area.
The senior local people have always placed a high priority on education and opportunity for the children and young adults so they might have a better life than they themselves have experienced. At their prompting, FPET has often provided small amounts of funds for sporting equipment, musical instruments and other expenditure to allow the youth to have a better life.
The emerging leadership skills of some youth are evident in the Comoning Youth Association which has been established at Atabae by the youth through their own efforts with a little support from others. This group has proved to be a great asset for the community in giving a sense of purpose to the youth and generally assisting in the development of the community. FPET is very pleased to be providing small amounts of funding to support their good work which has helped maintain a peaceful community while tensions were evident elsewhere in East Timor.
Community development
Following the philosophy of PALMS Australia, FPET has tried to focus on actions aimed at sustainable community development to avoid creating a relationship of dependency. This has required a consultative approach from the very beginning where we worked with the priorities of the local community. Initially this was done through the Atabae Parish Council. While the Parish Council is still consulted, a specific Community Consultative Committee has now been established to help guide FPET activities.
The Atabae community was mainly sustained by an almost cashless subsistence agriculture in the first years after Indonesian occupation but now is developing a growing cash economy. This trend is essential for the sustainable development of the community so young people can gain local employment.
While FPET has had a continuing interest in the economic and social development of the Atabae subdistrict, it has limited capacity to achieve this from its own resources. We mainly look for opportunities to collaborate with or otherwise encourage others to do these things.
We once had a small involvement in providing microcredit but did not continue with it as there are adequate microcredit services available. We also supplied a few livestock once but this was then dropped as a local priority. We have been trying to develop a small plantation of trees and intercropping as a pilot program but this has proved to be difficult despite the obvious potential for such ventures. Some new small businesses are being established. We expect soome more will be started and staffed by young people trained in relevant trades through our scholarships.
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Winner of the 2005 Anzac Peace Prize Page last modified on 28 July 2009 Top of page
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