The Comoning Youth Group in Atabae continues to flourish under the leadership of the President, Jose Asaca, and Vice President Chris. The group has organised government funding for fishing nets so uneducated and unemployed youth can earn money and obtained sewing machines for women to repair clothing as a small business. The group has also arranged football tournaments and convened workshops on violence and conflict resolution run in conjunction with the Justice and Peace Commission and World Vision.

The youth group, especially Jose, should be commended on trying to actively resolve youth problems, especially when conflict between groups in Atabae occurs. Atabae has some of the same martial arts gangs (and other militia groups) that have caused trouble in Dili. We can also remember that some of the worst militia groups operated in Atabae in 1999 and some of them continue. When conflict has occurred, Jose has invited the group leaders to meet together to resolve problems.

Jose and the youth group remain concerned for the uneducated and illiterate young people and wish to offer them activities and opportunities to channel their energies and improve themselves. They were able to help the young people in fishing villages with nets, but as yet have not found a way to support the young people in the mountain villages. Jose and Chris suggested that a tractor could be a good way to support the young people in these villages.

During his most recent visit to Atabae in March, Joel Hodge was very impressed with the the community minded commitment of all the young people now working with Margaret and David Hall. FPET greatly appreciates the skills and hard work the Halls have devoted to developing this team and their other community building work.

The most advanced of Margaret and David's trainees, Jose, Maria and Lepa, have been selected by the Atabae community to attend World Youth Day in Sydney in July. We are looking forward to meeting them in Brisbane before and after the main event in Sydney. They will participate in major activities organised for Queensland youth and visitors in Brisbane before going to Sydney and visit some Brisbane schools when they return from Sydney.

They will be accompanied by Adelino from the Buradu Youth Group in Dili with support from FPET and others. Buradu is a Tetun acronym which means "youth group seeking the way to unity". Because of the group's very industrious and skilful community work in a difficult area of Dili, it is supported by government and church leaders as well as some Australian journalists.

Gary Stone visited the students FPET is supporting at the Don Bosco Technical College in Dili. The female students pictured with Gary are training in office skills. A photo of Gary with the male students appears in our May newsletter. They are training in a range of trades including carpentry, plumbing and mechanics. Gary also visited the four students FPET is supporting at Baucau Teachers College. The first one is expected to graduate later this year and will then return to teach in Atabae.

FPET expects to continue supporting student training as part of the strategy for self sustaining community development. FPET is also seeking to arrange more learning and employment opportunities in Atabae and is already supporting similar endeavours by Atabae's local Comoning Youth Group.

Along with the progress on the new building, more volunteers are now doing initial orientation and evaluation for expansion of the health worker team. The four who started in February are Angelina Soares, Fericidada Piries, Maria Imaculada Pires and David Pires Martins. All are aged 20 or 21.

This month Chris, vice-president of the youth group who has just completed a business course in Dili will be joining the team. He will be working on computer programs and media work but is currently assisting with the construction of the community health centre.

The monsoonal rains have been quite persistent this year, especially in February. While some flooding is common during the wet season, this year seems to have been the most extensive for some years. At least it should replenish underground water supplies which have been quite low in recent drier than average years.

Despite the improved availability of underground water, much work needs to be done to provide secure, good quality water supplies and provide safe sanitation. Both are needed to help improve community health and make life less burdensome.

The program for special needs mothers, babies and children initiated last year by Margaret Hall has already saved several lives and made major improvements in the well being of all those supported the program. This includes another set of premature twins, two Down's syndrome toddlers and a baby whose mother died at childbirth.

The orphan baby is now cared for by the deceased mother's family where there are already eight children. While Margaret and others can visit when the weather permits, given the current wet weather, a family member has to make a regular six hour walk to get fresh supplies of food and supplements that cannot be stored at their home.

Margaret Hall says, "The program deals with families who need help now. These families may be single parent, unemployed or very low income. These fathers and mothers are good parents. They are just overwhelmed by the hopelessness of their situation. This program is giving them not only practical help but restoring their dignity."

Margaret continues, "We have many children who need to be on our program and now with help from Loreto Girls College and others we can help more children to survive and reach their full potential. On behalf of the families and the team, we thank you for your help and your prayers".

The erection of this building marks a very important step in the development of the community. The proactive approach to health care being introduced by Margaret is already showing great results. While we are accustomed to this approach to health in Australia, it is quite new to the people in Atabae and generally in East Timor.

FPET is particularly pleased that the local Community Committee has been so involved and committed to this building and the work being done under the leadership of the Halls. Margaret and David assure us that this support is quite widespread throughout the community.

There is a lot more planned for this year for women's and children's health including expanding services in the outlying villages. However, with the involvement of David, Jose and other helpers, programs targeting men's health and helping men as well as women deal better with family issues such as domestic violence are also planned for this year.

While there has been some urgency to get some vital health screening and related services started, some time will now be devoted to health education and public health issues. At the same time, the existing school health program is moving on to other schools in the subdistrict.

The Halls have settled back into Atabae and been very busy since their return to East Timor. While they have had some improvements to their living quarters, you can see that the roof is still in need of attention.

We are all looking forward to fresh opportunities as the new government starts to implement its plans to boost employment and improve infrastructure while addressing the worst of the poverty and health problems. The government seems to have a firm determination to work with non-government organisations to address the many issues needing urgent attention.

Nick and Jane were our first PALMS volunteers who went to live in Atabae early in 2005. Since returning to Australia they have maintained a continuing connection with the Atabae community and FPET. See February to May in our 2005 News Archive for some of their activity there and read their April 2005 letter to get their impressions of their experience of living in the Atabae community.

Other stories and news from past years can be accessed from our Index of Past News and Other Stories.

INDEX OF NEWS AND OTHER STORIES