blue mountains east timor sisters
Who Are The Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters
The Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters Project was formed in May 2004 in response to a direct request from an East Timor activist, Beba Sequeira, for assistance for women in East Timor.
Beba had visited the Blue Mountains to present at the 1st and 2nd Women and Earth Conferences. Beba met Mary Waterford there – Mary is a Blue Mountains based community worker.
Mary was asked if she could raise funds for East Timorese women and Mary then responded by diverting a portion of funds raised from a local peace initiative towards East Timor.
These funds were used to support infrastructure development for the organisation that Beba works for, Asia Pacific Support Collective – Timor Lorosae.
"This was the start!
Quickly the interest for a separate organising group became obvious and an independent meeting was called. Since mid 2004, Blue Mountains women have continued to meet as the Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters Project, have raised over $80,000 for East Timor projects.
The Sisters meets monthly on a weekday evening (1st Monday in the month at Lawson 7.00pm)
Only women attend meetings but men have been involved in assisting with fundraising activities
Communication is mainly through an extensive email list
The Group is aligned with other local networks and groups and this has assisted with making broader contacts and profile.
The Mountains Community Resource Network is the formal auspice Fundraising has been effective and together with one large donation this has meant that the group has adequate funds to achieve its project goals
BMETS Achievements 2006 !
What we have achieved in 2006.
Where a little goes a long way.
- We paid salary to two grassroots women's community development workers to assist development of women’s projects.
- We established 19 scholarships for women and girls in East Timor - 10 at university, 9 at school.
- We assisted two women's tais weaving cooperatives supporting up to 150 women and their families, purchasing over $10,000 in tais for re-sale in Australia.
- We contributed over $10,000 towards Mother and Baby Packs to be distributed through the Alola Foundation and supported other Alola projects.
- We assisted two East Timorese women to come to Australia to strengthen friendships, connections and networks and to raise funds and awareness.
- We continued assisting with the collection and writing of Women Veteran’s Stories from the Clandestine Movement.
- We provided funds to complete the building of a Women Veteran’s Centre in the village community of Bogoro.
- We resourced the establishment of a women’s sewing cooperative in the town of Hato-Builico.
- We furnished a Safe-Room in Dili Hospital for victims of sexual assault and assisted Pradet in their work in trauma counselling services by funding vehicles.
- We provided $6,000 for emergency relief.
- We organised three public forums to develop of knowledge of East Timor current issues.
- We supported the on-going development of Blue Mountains Friendship Committee with Hato Builico and developed links to other local governments work in East Timor.
- We established a partnership with Union Aid Aboard | Apheda to enable tax-deductibility for donations.
