Greetings Fellow Consortium Members and Supporters,
It is with much pleasure and relief that we are finally able to report that the above Consortium's 2023 Global Grant Application has been lodged today with The Rotary Foundation.
Thanks to your very generous financial support of this Project, it has been possible to lodge the application with a budget of US $71,750/- (AUD $108,342/-) based on the purchase and installation of twenty (20) 5,500 litre galvanised Water Tanks and the construction by local villagers of four (4) three cubicle School Toilet Buildings.
It is a requirement of a Global Grant that a Scoping Visit must first be carried out and a Team comprising Vijay Susarla (RC Caroline Springs) and Justine Paragreen (RC Camberwell) did this most successfully in September this year. During their trip, a cooperative MOU was exchanged with a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) by the name of Timor Verde who are also involved in Clean Water and Agricultural projects in Timor Leste.
During this Trip the Team was also introduced to the Timor Leste National Government's Ministry of Power - Water and Sanitation Department in Dili and the Ministry is also keen to sign a MOU between his Government Department and the Rotary Club of Dili and us. A draft MOU has been drawn up by his Department and this is expected to be signed very shortly.
It is hoped that a positive response to our Application will be received from The Rotary Foundation early in the New Year which will enable Stage 1 of the Project to commence at the end of the present Wet Season with the expectation that the whole project will be completed prior to the end of the 2025 Dry Season.
Progress Reports will be issued from time to time, and we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas season and New Year.
Vijay Susarla John Walmsley
Project Manager Deputy Project Manager