By Ann Wigglesworth of Friends of Suai/Covalima and
Alberto de Jesus Barros of Covalima Community Centre Introduction • Concepts of Friendship and Development • Emergence of the Friendship idea • Changing context: post-1999 reconstruction, transition to development, the megaproject. • Growth of the Covalima Community Centre • Education and project activities in Covalima • Third party partnerships • Public awareness activities in Port Phillip • Exchanges, joint planning and learning The Concept of Friendship A sustainable and productive relationship based in dialogue, trust and strategic vision, built on a spirit of volunteerism and solidarity on both sides. The concept of development “Development … meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Bruntland report 1987)
Timorese activists argue
that development is where they, as Timorese, are agents of change. Development partnerships which support the values and mission of their own organisation are valued over projects funded and implemented by donors (Wigglesworth 2016:125) The Roots of Friendship 1999 • 1999 – Independence Ballot -78.5% vote against autonomy with Indonesia • Widespread violence and destruction by Indonesian military and their paid militia • 1999 – Media images of the violence and fear generated huge response and desire to help. • 2000 – Concept of locality-based friendship was put forward by Timorese leadership, promoted by Abel Guterres in Melbourne • It built on the historic debt from the Second World War when commandos promised never to forget their Timorese friends and saviours. Friends of Suai beginnings • Abel Guterres proposed City of Port Phillip befriend Suai, largely destroyed and traumatised from the Church Massacre on 6 September 1999 • Friendship Agreement signed 4 May 2000 by President Xanana Gusmao • Information gathering visits to Suai Feb & Aug 2000, & anniversary of massacre visit Sept 2000 • Started to renovate a building for a community centre • Recruited an Australian Volunteer (AVI), first of three. • Start of teaching IT and ELT 2002 Reconstruction and early actions • 2002-3 Responding to need construction of schools, school desks and chairs to get kids into school • Nutrition project in Suai hospital 2004-6 for children with chronic malnutrition. Rotary funded the kitchen. • Bakery project supported by Fijian peacekeepers • Sewing project for widowed women 2003-2007 • Mechanics training for youth • Forestry project Towards development 2004-6 • 2004-6 change of FOS staff: Pat Jessen in Port Phillip; Alberto, Francisco and Simao start at Suai Community Centre. • Timorese staff decide there is no need for AVIs • Scholarship program starts with links to ETDA, Dili • Suai Secondary School library project starts • 2005-6 oil revenues boost National Budget. FOS focus shifts away from infrastructure to development • Political-military crisis in 2006 puts on hold activities. • Friendship tested when ADF causes damage to Community Centre Education • Suai activists were commitment to share their skills by teaching English and computer skills • Self-financing English, IT classes from 2002 to present • 2009-2014 a series of Australian retired teachers volunteered in Suai to train Covalima English teachers and CCC staff. • Science and Mathematics training for teachers in Covalima. Scholarships Scholarship Program, 2003-9, 12 orphan 12 (7 girls, 5 boys) & 8 Uni 199 finalist. Continuing the Scholarship program from 2012 to present. - Enrolment 272 (148 female, 124 male) in CCC. - 155 (92 female, 63 male) placed in training centres, schools and UNTL. - 85 (43 female, 42 male) awarded certificates. - 61 (31 female, 30 male) got jobs. Covalima Community Centre • From two staff (2005) to 35 staff and vols (2019) • Staff and volunteers learning on the job • Expansion – new training rooms • Registration as an NGO • Registration as RTO • Change of name from Suai Community Centre to Covalima Community Centre in 2007 to reflect focus of activities in Covalima District Community Centre Moto The Hali tree represents the Community Centre as a place of shade and safety for the community, where people can gather together and share their experiences about education and ‘Haklaken, Hein, Simu no development in all sectors. Hamutuk hodi Hala’o no Hakat On the community centre ba Oin’ symbol, the moto under ‘Inform, Wait, Accept & together the Hali tree is: Implement and Step Forward’ The Friendship extension • Port Phillip commitment extended another 10 years to 2020 • Joint planning for Strategic Plan 2010-2020 involving consultation with 251 people from 30 villages • FOS becomes FOS/C Friends of Suai/Covalima in 2011 External changes: • Electricity arrives in Suai 2011 • South Coast Development starts to impact Events and activities by FOS/C Citizens of Port Phillip were engaged and informed by FOS/C in a number of ways: • Cultural exhibitions, 2008, 2010, 2013,2015 in Port Phillip • Elwood College civic education conferences 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 • Timor Election Monitoring missions 2012, 2017 • Education Study Tour 2015 • Public meetings • Anniversary events (Black Saturday 6 Sept) • Fundraising activities – Trivia nights, film nights, dinners etc. Partnerships • Rotary: nutrition project kitchen, primary school building, secondary school library and school WASH project • ATA (Renew): solar panels for Health centres in Covalima; village lighting • InfoXchange: InfoTimor computer maintenance, WithOneSeed forestry • Rural Women’s Development Project – IWDA (2009-2019) • Oxfam: Civil society networks support, agriculture project (from 2016), ‘Land and Inclusive Development’ joint project (from 2016). Exchanges, joint planning & learning • Annual visits by FOS/C coordinator • Visits to Melbourne by Suai friends • Volunteer English teachers in Suai • FOS/C committee visits including capacity development • Joint project planning with IWDA, Oxfam, InfoXchange, Renew • Community Development student from Victoria University placements at the Community Centre • Training in community engagement for Community Centre staff Campaign for Gender Equality Rural Women’s Development Program (IWDA, 2009-2019) impacts women’s political participation in the Sucos and Suai. Staff report: • “We are proud that Friends of Suai gave us the support so that women in Covalima can become women leaders. Now women are a force in Covalima!’ • “On International Women’s Day 300 women paraded through the streets of Suai shouting out the message: THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO BECOME LEADER AND I AM READY TO STRUGGLE FOR GENDER EQUALITY” How Friendship contributed to Development • Early and continuing financial commitment by Port Phillip Council • Staff (both places) brought good skills and stayed long term • Community committees (both places) were established and had committed and skilled membership • Community Centre staff committed to Suai development. • The Friendship could attract third party resources to support activities and offer technical inputs • The Friendship adapted its program as the external environment changed • Community Centre staff capacity increased continuously. • Ongoing commitment of FOS/C members in Port Phillip • Friendship delivered trust, mutual respect and joint planning. Questions Unanswered questions: • Will Port Phillip Council continue support? How will the Friendship adapt and continue?
Thank you very much for your attention:
• We are happy to answer any questions and welcome other Friendship experiences and perspectives.
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