PROJECT ‘Ossoluga’
11 November 2014
Macalaco’s School Garden just gets better
Macalaco’s school gardens have always been one of my favourite projects. The villagers have turned $500 into 2 irrigated hectares of fruit and vegetables for the children. On our last trip I handed over a $500 donation from an Australian family to continue funding the gardens. We also gave the school director at Ossoluga school $300 to start their garden which we hope will be as successful.
   
project: Macalaco East Timor, Ossoluga
22 October 2014
Did we introduce a new sport to Timor?
Soccer balls are always popular with the boys at the schools, but we wanted to take something that would be great for the girls as well. So I packed 50 long skipping ropes to take with me this trip. Asha (12), Imogen (14) and Isobel (16) pulled them out wherever we were and started skipping. It took no time for the local kids to join in and they loved it. People who have spent a lot of time in Timor say they’ve not seen skipping ropes there before – certainly not in places as remote as Ossoluga. It was great fun for everyone.
      
project: Ossoluga, Seisal
16 October 2014
Ossoluga School Opening – just as fabulous as Seisal
The fabulous Seisal School Opening was a hard act to follow, but the people of Ossoluga turned on a celebration which was incredible in a different way. After a hard hour’s drive on Saturday morning across river beds and up dirt tracks we reached Ossoluga High School on top of a mountain outside Baucau. Ossoluga’s 3 classroom and teacher’s room school building is light and cool and a stark contrast to the old school which was a windowless shack with dirt floors. We have also built toilets (the only ones in the village) complete with hand washing facilities and water tank.
The children from Festau and Macalaco primary schools (which we built in 2010 and 2011) now have a high school to go to and they and their parents walked the hour to Ossoluga for Saturday’s celebrations. The opening was very relaxed and had all of us dancing with the locals. The food the local ladies cooked without ovens or electricity was extraordinary and the desserts even featured a creme caramel the French would be proud of! The 9, 12, 14 and 16 year old girls we had with us were definitely the stars of the show. A great day!
.                
project: Ossoluga
17 July 2014
Maucale School’s New Library
It may not look like much – but this tiny library is a massive step forward for Macuale School. Until now, there has been absolutely no books available for the children. Our previous attempts to introduce libraries to the schools have resulted in books packed away in boxes in the teacher’s room and never used. This library is a direct result of the training course the teacher’s attended last month. We couldn’t ask for better proof that the course was successful.
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor, Lospalos East Timor, Macalaco East Timor, Maucale East Timor, Ossoluga, OSTICO EAST TIMOR, Seisal
16 June 2014
Look out Kids!
This is one of 14 teachers heading home to her remote village after the 3 day training workshop in Dili. She’s heading back with a headful of knowledge and an armful of resources.
Thanks to Rotary Club of Melbourne for funding all of the costs of the workshop, teachers’ travel, food and accommodation.
project: Lequeracabu'u East Timor, Lospalos East Timor, Macalaco East Timor, Maucale East Timor, Ossoluga, Seisal
|
