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
Some of our Achievements
- Core funding of the women’s organisation APSC-TL (Asia Pacific Support Collective – Timor Leste) which employs three staff engaged in community development work.
- Development of four pre-schools in rural areas.
- The building of a Library in Gleno, and contributing to Library materials in Maliana
- Funding the Office of the First Lady for welfare activities.
- The completion of Pradet’s new building to operate a service for the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault based at Dili Hospital.
- Four women's tais (weaving) cooperatives by purchasing over $15,000 worth of tais for re-sale in Australia.
- Publication of ‘Secrecy – The Key to Independence’ in Tetun and English. The book tells the stories of 13 women involved in the Clandestine movement 1975 - 1999 .
BMETS has established a partnership with Apheda - Union Aid Abroad to enable tax-deductible donations to BMETS.
BMETS has encouraged other groups to support East Timor, particularly the development of the Blue Mountains City Council Friendship Committee. The Council through this committee has established a friendship with the mountainous district of Hato Builico.
In 2010 BMETS joined with the Blue Mountains Council Friendship Committee to run ‘Trek for Timor’ which raised over $60,000 for Education and Literacy projects – these funds are gradually being distributed. A second trek is planned for 2012.
