Once again we are collecting books to send to Timor Leste. We are looking for early childhood, primary and high school books that can be used for reading practice. There is also a high school looking for commerce, maths and economic style texts. We will also accept early childhood toys for our kindergartens in Bei Cala and Boramba.

While the Bei Cala kindergarten has been up and running for a number of months, the Boramba school will be set up in a room of our existing school block.

If you have any books or early childhood toys, in good condition that you would like to donate please contact me at debbielocke@bigpond.com. They can be delivered to Dorrigo or Bellingen or dropped of at the Sgt. Matthew Locke MG Charity Event on the 25th February 2017 in Bellingen

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Once items are collected they will be delivered to Melbourne by Cramptons truck company and from there the Rotary Club of Melbourne sends a container every six weeks to Timor Leste.

Thank you in advance for your kind donations.

Have you considered making the journey to Timor Leste. In 2011 we built a 4 room school house that now needs some maintenence. Can you help?

In April 2017, I will be travellingdeparting Darwin on the 9th April and returning on the 17th April and I am looking for anyone who would like to join me and undertake this work.

After arriving in Dili, you will be met and escorted to the village of Bei Cala which is in the Ainaro district. It is approximately 30 minutes past Same.

Accommodation in Bei Cala is with locals who will welcome you into their homes.

If you are interested and would like to know more, please email me at debbielocke@bigpond.com

I have been lucky enough to visit Bei Cala, Timor Leste twice this year. Most recently I took my sister Belinda with me and was able to introduce her to the wonderful people. In Bei Cala we attended the official opening of the pre-school and checked out other projects we are involved in. Still a lot of work to do.

The pre-school opened for business on Monday 3rd October and the new volunteer teachers Zumira and Eira Clara will be registering students and getting used to the program. We wish them all the best and look forward to catching up again, hopefully next year. We will also be arranging training for the ladies to help them on this journey.

I also dropped in on Darryl Mills OAM and Mario de Jesus who run the Rotary office in Dili. We will be collaborating with friends to undertake another project in the Oecussi Province. More details to come. Darryl is about to step down after 13 years in Dili undertaking all sorts of poverty relief projects for Rotary Melbourne.

I am also about to start working on another book drive and will be contacting Rotary Melbourne regarding this project, so stay turned for more information. Books are desperately needed for all age groups.

We had wonderful weather, awesome hosts and I once again come away immensly satisfied with our progress. None of this could have been achieved if not for the friendship of Jino Perriera, who as always chauffered us, advised us and translated for us throughout the entire journey. Thank you Jino, you are a man amongst men. To your family Karbina and Anisetto, Lily, Jackie, Zumira and Lala and of course the boys and the twins, thank you for your hospitality. It is much appreciated.

Jino Perriera MCing the official opening of the pre-school

Zumira and Eira Clara (Lala)

Escola Kaisera

During the recent April School Holidays I was privileged to travel to Bei Cala, Timor Leste to visit the community and see progress on our current project a kindergarten building, observe the use of our previous building project and of course catch up with old friends. Funds for our project are primarly provided through the Sgt. Matthew Locke MG Charity Match.

Traditional Welcome

The current project is nearing completion with the inside being finished on the main room, door added, so it can be locked, plastering on the outside wall well under way and bricks ordered for the septic tank. Since my return Jino has informed me that progress is continued with outside plastering finished, bathroom and tank underway and steps and awning started. The plaque was put in place while I was there.

It is looking very bright and should be an excellent learning space for pre-school children. Two young ladies have volunteered to take on the teacher roles and will be travelling to Dili to observe kindergartens there for ideas. I was also happy to provide some initial resource money to start the school off.

I also handed out workbooks, pens and pencils to students at Kaisera Escola, Boramba Escola and Bei Cala Esccola thanks to  a few people who generously donated some cash before I left. Students are very keen to improve there English which is taught in High School and many young people visited me in Bei Cala and partook of some Conversational English lessons. They were full of laughter and I was impressed with the dedication shown by the students.

Timor Leste is beautiful and some progress has been made with many villages now having electricity connections available, but it was disappointing to note the state of the roads had not really improved  since my last visit four years ago. It still took 6 hours to travel 140km.

Students at Kaisera Escola

I am hoping to travel back in October and would be happy to take some volunteers if anyone is interested. Initially, I am looking at a 10 day trip in all, it would be during the school holidays (24th September to 9th October) again and a significant proportion of that time would be spent travelling in Timor Leste visiting Bei Cala, Bentano, hopefully Balibo, Suai and of course Dili. There could be a spot of English teaching in Bei Cala if your up for it. Please contact me if your interested in joining me. 0429977959 or debbielocke@bigpond.com

I will be carrying a report back to the Grub Club committee with some recommendations for future maintenance work which is needed on our original building as well as another project request that I received.

Thank you to my hosts while there Jino for driving me everywhere and his family in Bei Cala for hosting me.

Kaisera Escola

Inside Classroom of new kindergarten.