PROJECT ‘Lequeracabu’u East Timor’
02 February 2010
Two steps forward, one step back
Nothing is ever simple in developing countries. Elvino finally reached Lequeracabu’u today and has advised us against building there – apparently the available land is too small and the clay soil won’t support a concrete school like we built in Ostico. Agostinho and Jenny though are strongly in support of doing something other than walking away and leaving the children sitting on dirt floors in a falling down school with no windows.
The other option is to look at a semi-permanent school which could be built on the clay soil and in the available space. They are not beautiful like our school in Ostico – they have concrete floors, light wood walls and mesh windows. But they last 15-20 years and can be built much more cheaply than traditional schools.
Simon is investigating other sites, but Agostinho is also going to get a quote for a semi-permanent school.
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor
22 January 2010
Builders stranded in flood waters
Well there is never a dull moment in our projects …. Agostinho, Elvino and 4 trades people left today for Lequeracabu’u to investigate the feasibility of a school there. They have only just returned to dryer country following a harrowing day stranded between rising rivers – they were unable to reach the school or return to where they had left the cars. With no food and only a bottle of water, they hung out under the trees in pouring rain for 5 hours until being able to cross the waist high river and walk the 4 kms back to the car. The cars were then bogged and a return to Baucau city was finally made at 7pm that night. Elvino has committed to returning to the school next Tuesday (if the rain as stopped!)
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor
14 January 2010
Pre-dawn drive, mud and Lequeracabu’u
After a lot of effort and false starts Simon, Jenny and Agostinho may have found a school for our next project in a tiny village called Lequeracabu’u
As if to push their dedication as far as possible, the only way for them to get to the school before the morning wet season rains made it impassable was to leave Dili at 3am! After driving for four hours they finally reached the bank of the river at 7am. They waded across in knee deep water, they started walking to the school across old rice fields under Mt Matebian, one of the highest and most sacred mountains in Timor. The walk turned out to be 1.5 hours rather than the promised 30 minutes – through mud and irrigation streams and dodging water buffalo. One of the teachers acted as a guide and when they were finally approaching the school the children started to ring the school bell (which turned out to an old rusty car hub hanging from the roof).
The school is in a village on a hill above a stream with the mountains in the background and overlooking the fields in the valley. The school consisted of a little more than a lean-to with dirt floors, few desks and tables, no windows or doors, and tiny rooms.
Simon, Jenny and Agostinho are all very excited about the project and believe we could make a massive difference. Currently many of the village’s children are walking to a school much further away which makes them too tired and hungry to learn. It also jeapordises the job of the teachers in the village. Agostinho and Elvino (the builder) are going back next week to investigate the site and prepare a proper quote for a school.
  
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor
27 October 2009
Wet season is here
We have a list of schools on the “desperate list”, but can’t get to any of them for a look now that the wet season is here and the roads to all of these villages are impasable. Simon hopes to be able to get out in March to find another school for Spend it Well’s 2010 project. So until then, it’s a matter of waiting for the rain to stop falling.
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor
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