Spend It Well

11 January 2011

More Donated Furniture for Spend it Well Schools

To reduce deforestation, the East Timorese govt has put strict controls on the use of new wood. Rotary is helping to address the resulting shortage of school furniture (made of wood) by shipping used school furniture from Australia to East Timor.

Our school at Ostico was the beneficiary of some of this furniture last year. Now Rotary has provided Spend it Well with more furniture for Ostico, Lequeracabu’u and also the two new schools we plan to build this year at Maucale and Macalaco.

project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor, Macalaco East Timor, Maucale East Timor, OSTICO EAST TIMOR

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10 January 2011

Macalaco, East Timor

Macalaco is a small village in stunning mountains, 3 ½ hours drive from the East Timor capital, Dili. Over 130 students and teachers walk up to 4 hours each day to Macalaco school from nearby peaks and valleys. Due to space constraints, the school’s six classes have to operate in two shifts: three classes in the morning and three classes in the afternoon. However, many children cannot attend afternoon classes safely because the sun sets at around 6.30 in East Timor. An extra 3 classroom building is needed to enable all children to attend classes in one shift with time spare to walk home safely to adjacent peaks before dark.

Mario, the builder we used for our Lequeracabu’u project, has been engaged to build this the extra building for US$25,000. An Australian family has offered to pay for the entire construction of the new building and plan to be involved with the village on a long term basis. With this generous family support, we will begin construction as soon as the rains let up. There are many other ways Macalaco village can be helped though, so we are also looking for support for things like school books, scholarships and possibly a sporting court. Can you help?

Before photos

School site		Current school building

Students outside		Students inside current classroom

project: Macalaco East Timor

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09 January 2011

Maucale School to cost $35,000

Agostinho has negotiated a cost of $35,000 for the Maucale School. The school needs to be constructed to withstand the high winds in the area and will have solid concrete foundations and a roof guaranteed by the builder to last 25-30 years. Simon, Agostinho and Dinis are meeting with Rozi, the builder this week for further discussions. We’ll be in a position to start work as soon as the rainy season finishes if we can raise the remaining funds needed.

project: Maucale East Timor

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06 January 2011

Maucale Project

Maucale is a small village in a picturesque part of East Timor about 3 hours drive from the capital, Dili. The village school consists of a 3 classroom building which can’t be used in the wet season and threatens to collapse at any time and 3 tiny classrooms crammed into another building. The school has 258 primary and secondary school children. The building situation means that many of these can’t be schooled at all during the wet season, even with the teachers running two shifts each day. There is a very strong sense of community in the village. One of the teachers who has been there for 21 years said very simply that education is the only chance for their children and is the absolute priority for the villagers.

We are planning to build a new three classroom building. Because the site is better than that of our last school project at Lequeracabu’u, it can be built stronger and to last longer with a steel frame, beams and deeper foundations. Estimates put the cost of the work at US$40,000 – US$50,000 and we are currently in negotiation with two builders. We have raised some of the money and are hoping to raise the rest at the beginning of 2011 so that we can start work when the wet season finishes in March/April. You can make a personal difference by getting involved in supporting this vital project. Contact Spend It Well

project: Maucale East Timor

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27 November 2010

Lequeracabu’u School Plaque

Here is a photo and translation of the words carved on the plaque outside Lequeracabu’u School.

“In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, a group of friends throughout the world came together to fund the building of the Festau School. This group called “Spend it Well”, together with the Lequracubu’u community, are proud to commit to a brighter future for Timor-Leste through the education of our children. Officially opened by Sra. Kirsty sword Gusmao 22.10.2010”

“If you are planning for a year – sow rice.

If you are planning for a decade – plant trees.

If you are planning for a lifetime – educate a child.”