March is Rotary's month of focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, so it is appropriate to issue a further update on progress made under our Global Grant GG2456718 which is bringing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Training to remote mountain villages in eastern Timor Leste.
In our last Update in November last year, we reported on the Inspection and Scoping work carried out by the Volunteer Team lead by Vijay Susarla which visited various project sites in and around the regions of Baguia and Baucau.
During the course of this visit in October2024 they were informed by Brother Tomas, the manager of Timor Roofing and Training Lad from whom we purchase our galvanised Water Tanks, that a similar need for Clean Water exists in schools in the city of Baucau itself. Timor Roofing and Training company is a Steel Rolling Mill and Training facility that was originally set up by 3 Melbourne based Rotary Clubs following Timor Leste's then newly gained independence from Indonesia. It is now owned and operated by the Don Bosco Organisation which is a worldwide Catholic Organisation operating as an NGO in Timor Leste.
The city of Baucau is located on the northern coast of Timor Leste and is its second largest population centre. Further inquiries made through Timor Roofing & Training Lda indicated that there could be as many as sixty schools in the city of Baucau that need a Clean Water supply. We have received confirmation from the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) "that there does indeed appear to be a need for water in many schools throughout Baucau" and we believe that this could become the basis for a new Global Grant Project.
We have had discussions and a Zoom conference with three other Rotary Districts which have expressed support for what could end up being a new AUD $400,000 Global Grant Project.
For this to become a new Global Grant Project we would first need to carry out a new Scoping Trip and an Application for this has recently been lodged with our District 9800 Humanitarian Grants Committee in the hope that we can ascertain sufficient information on the supply (or non-supply) of water to schools in city of Baucau, to warrant the sending of a Scoping Team there before the end of this Rotary Year on the 30th June 2025.
In the meantime, work on our existing Global Grant GG2456718 continues with the following progress having been made since our last update.
- Installed 10 Water Tanks and constructed two Toilet blocks which represents 50% completion of our Project Objectives.
- Provided hands-on construction work helping the local contractor building a Toilet block at Loiholihoo Primary School in Viqueque district.
- Finalised WASH training logistics with a local Medical Doctor in the two schools where we constructed the Toilets.
- Inspected Water Tanks and Toilets that have been completed in the past three years for functionality, usage, and cleaning maintenance of the facilities for long term sustainability.
- Met with our project partners Timor Varde (an organisation sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP), as well as with Timor Roofing and Training company, and Leaders from five different villages . The outcome of these meetings was to better understand the Clean Water requirements of schools in the Bacau region.
This month's focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene makes it a good time for Rotary Clubs and other Donors to review their financial commitments for both this and next Financial Years and we are always very appreciative of any financial support to this very worthwhile project.
Donations may be made:
- Directly to our Special Project Account BSB 633-000 Acct No. 162587430 with the Bendigo Bank or
- Tax Deductible Donations may be made to our Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) Account No. 8-2020-21
John Walmsley Vijay Susarla
M: 0412 516 445 M: 0410 619 323
