Projects

Cr Andy Ingham - Aileu Scholarship Program

Cr Andy Ingham was a Councillor with the Brunswick and Moreland City Councils and involved in local government for over 20 years, until his death in July 2001.

Cr Ingham had a passion for East Timor and a desire to support this new nation in establishing peace, independence and happiness for its people. In particular, Cr Ingham highlighted his desire to help with improving the training, education and capacity building opportunities for young and not so young people of East Timor.

Andy was the inaugural Chairman of the Friends of Aileu, and visited the Aileu District in April 2000.

The Friends of Aileu Community Committee and the Councils of Hume and Moreland wanted to commemorate his tireless work and our fond memories of Cr Ingham in a project that produces tangible, sustainable outcomes for the people of East Timor. This led to the establishment of a fund to provide tertiary scholarships for students from Aileu to undertake studies in Timor-Leste.

Scholarship holders

In 2010 thirty five scholarships were awarded including several in a special category of agriculture, in recognition of the main economic activity in the Aileu. A similar nuumber is expected to be awarded in 2011 District. seven scholarships were awarded.

For more information read about the Scholarship Program (DOC 795Kb).

Secondary Scholarship Program

Hume City Council in 2004 decided to make available ten scholarships for students in Aileu attending junior secondary school who wished to proceed to senior high school but whose parents were too poor to pay for their education. The students, who were nominated by the Aileu Commission on the advice of school principals and the education authorities in Aileu, were chosen because of their academic potential. The program has been continued, and in 2010, twentyeight were awarded.

Employment of a Volunteer Project Worker 

In 2010, Friends of Aileu employed an Australian Volunteers International volunteer project worker, Paul Coghlan, to advise the District Administration on planning and administration and to assist with the planning and implementation of projects funded by Friends of Aileu and partner organisations in Aileu. Partners CETAF and KVRP also contribute to the cost of the volunteer's living allowance.

Solar Lighting Project

Since 2004, Friends of Aileu has been working with the Alternative Technology Association to install solar lighting systems in public buildings in the Aileu District, and more recently in village households. In 2010, the ATA volunteeers finished installing 120 systems in the village of besilau, with funds raised by partner organisation, the Moora Moora Community and over 400 systems in two villages in the Remexio Sub-District, with funds from the Kangaroo Valley-Remexio Partnership (NSW).  Read more about the Solar Lighting Project (DOC 502Kb).

Community Health Projects

Friends of Aileu, in association with Merri Community Health Services and the Campaspe East Timor Association in Friendship (CETAF), has supported a number of projects in conjunction with the Aileu District Health Service, the Uma Ita Nian Parish Clinic and the St Francis of Asissi Disability Workshop. These include the provison of medical equipm,ent to the Clinic and the District Health Centre, renovation of a building to house mid-wives, provision of a vehicle to transport midwives around the District, and provsion of equipment for the disability workshop. They have also funded a number of projects for improving healeth through better nutrition run by the Parish Clinic, including chicken and pig production, seed and soy-milk production and construction of fuel-efficient stoves.

Dental Health Project

 The latest project is deisgned to improve the oral health of the local commuinity. Staff from North Richmond Community Health Centre, with support from Dental Health Services Victoria, the Victorian Oral and Dental Therapists Association and Colgate Australia, have begun working with the local dental staff on a program to increase oral health awareness amongst local school children. More information about this project is available here (DOC 475Kb).

Friendship School Project 

A  number of schools in Moreland have links with schools in Aileu District. They exchange letters and photos and have raised funds to improve facilities at the schools in Aileu. In July 2010, ten Year 11 students from St Joseph's College in Echuca paid a two-week 'immersion' visit to St Paul's Catholic College in Aileu, where they visited students' homes and participated in classroom activities.

East Timor Coffee

East Timor coffee is now selling for $7.50 for a 250 gram pack.

East Timor Coffee Blend is available by phoning 9240 1111 or from any of Council's citizens service centres: 

• Moreland Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
• Brunswick Citizens Service Centre, 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick
• Glenroy Citizens Service Centre, 796N Pascoe Vale Road, Glenroy

All proceeds go to the community of Aileu in East Timor.

The sale of East Timor coffee, through the partnership with Coffex Coffee in Brunswick ,has provided the Friends of Aileu with a sustainable and steady stream of income.  A number of partner organisations which support projects in Aileu, including Moreland Community Health Service, the Alternative Technology Association, Campaspe Shire and Moora Moora Community, also sell the coffee, with the profits going towards those projects.

Aileu Resource and Training Centre (Centro de Recurso e Treinamento de Aileu)

Friends of Aileu is supporting a small non-government organisation in Aileu, the Aileu Resource and Training Centre, which provides a range of training and community development programs. It is housed in the small public library building in Aileu, which is owned by the Ministry of Education.

Friends of Aileu has provided funds for the renovation and equipping of the Centre, including provision of an Internet connection. It also support profesdsional development for the centre's staff, and some of the training and community development programs provided by the Centre.

Read more information about  Aileu Resource and Training Centre. (DOC 1Mb)