Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1116 Issue Date: 21 Apr, 2024

At the club’s meeting on 02 May, 2017, Max Bird presented a description of the Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) water, sanitation and hygiene project he leads in Timor-Leste (East Timor). This project titled “Water and Sanitation Projects in the Baucau/Com, Los Palos and Viqueque Districts of Timor-Leste” operates in the Eastern end of Timor to supply additional sources of secure and sustainable water to villages and schools. The Rotary Club of Western Endeavour (RCWE) will support the installation of a water system to a hospital in a town called Baguia in the District of Baucau during August-September of this year. Guttering will be fitted to the roof of the main building and rainwater collected in 10,000 litre water tanks for gravity feeding to taps within the hospital.

Max will make two presentations to the club during 2017. This, the initial presentation, describes the water project in general. Another presentation will follow in November, 2017 to elucidate specifics of RCWE’s investment at the hospital in Baguia. Max has been involved in this water project since 2010 and travels to Timor-Leste 3-4 times a year to ensure the quality of operations and provide technical advice where needed.

RAWCs projects are initially identified by local communities and their implementation is discussed at a range of administrative levels. In T-L this includes discussions with school or hospital personnel, village chief (or chefe), traditional leaders or lurai, the local area (called Suco) chief, Sub District and District administrators, and on occasions, at the Ministerial level. Max mentioned that it is important for the recipients take full “ownership” of a potential project before commencing any investment. All labour is organized and provided to the project as the local contribution and Rotary pays for materials and equipment. With appropriate consultation, communities are very enthusiastic to be involved. One of Max’s photographs showed a scene of twenty girls carrying a large water tank to its final location because they were keen to have the tank installed and operating before the boys returned to the orphanage that afternoon.

Once installed, it is possible for the “owners and operators” of the system to charge a small fee for villagers to access the water. One example was given of a small village in Los Palos which installed a well and pipe system to save villagers walking 5 kilometres to another water source.  The village chief collected a small fee from each user saving $5,000 over a period of time to replace the pump and pipes when necessary. These fees are generally banked ensuring the accumulated fund amount is known by all villagers thereby encouraging further investments in community projects. In most cases, however, operating costs need to be paid for by the recipient schools, orphanages or hospitals and it is important to install low cost systems that are easy to maintain. Other examples of projects supported through the project in 2016 included replacement of blocked water pipes in an orphanage in Laga, installation of header and storage tanks at Naha’e village and the installation of water filters into Baguia high school.

Access to clean drinking water is essential to maintain the health and wellbeing of local populations. Teachers at Baguia high school reported that as a result of the installation of water filters, students are now drinking enough water during the day to maintain a good level of hydration, are more alert during class and their attention span is improving. The use of clean water also reduces food contamination and improves personal hygiene.

The club thanked Max for his presentation and looks forward to hearing about progress with the installation of the RCWE supported water supply at Baguia hospital later in the year.