Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters
Current Projects
Scholarships
We provide scholarships for girls and women to finish school or attend university, particularly helping women with leadership potential. Some are now in jobs such as community development work, business financial management, one is a secretary, another a registered doctor, while others are back in their villages teaching and helping start schools and pre-schools. Current students are studying fields including Administration, International Studies, Economics, Law, Sociology, Computer Technology, Finance, Marketing, Mathematics, and Petroleum while others are completing high school.
Asia Pacific Support Collective for Timor Leste (APSC-TL)
We provide core funding for APSC-TL which is involved in gender and violence issues, training and leadership of women and engaged with government policy. Beba Sequeira is the Executive Director of APSC-TL and Laura Abrantes is a Gender Consultant. Laura gained an MA in Sociology degree in Brazil in the late 2000s. Beba and Laura are key contacts for the BMETS. They undertake work on BMETS’ behalf as well as carrying out their own community development work and advocacy. APSC-TL works closely with Rede Feto an umbrella for East Timor women’s organisations, and also UN Women, the United Nations organisation involved in research and funding projects.
BMETS member Judy Finch began a 12 month placement working for APSC-TL as an Australian Volunteer International in March 2011.
Women Veteran's Stories ‘Secrecy – the Key to Independence’
BMETS has assisted the publication and distribution of this book in Tetun and English. Through oral history interviews it tells the stories of the lives of 13 women who were part of the Clandestine Independence Movement during the Indonesian occupation 1975 to 1999.
Veterans Centre
BMETS funded the completion of a women’s centre in Bogoro, Liquica for veterans and widows of the Clandestine Movement. These women run co-operative business projects from the Centre.
Preschools
We assist the on-going development of four preschools in rural communities in Liquica by providing stipends for volunteer teachers, equipment and uniforms. We are now assisting them to become registered teachers.
Tais Cooperatives
By purchasing tais, the traditional weaving of East Timor, from four Tais Co-operatives we are assisting the growth of these businesses. These co-ops support about 20 families (150 people) and also maintain the traditional skills and culture of the women. BMETS resells the tais in Australia.
Library & Literacy
BMETS has contributed to two new libraries in Maliana and Gleno rural districts. We are also assisting the financial development of the ‘Mother Tongue’ Literacy project in Hato Builico
Alola Foundation
We have contributed to the Dili based Alola Foundation. For instance over $10,000 raised for Mother and Baby packs containing basic health items such as soap and nappies and health information. This program aims to attract mothers to hospital to give birth and also to reduce the high maternal and infant mortality rate.
Pradet - service for women victims of violence
Pradet provides a wide range of services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. BMETS raised over $10,000 for the building of office space for Pradet in the Dili Hospital compound. We have also bought equipment such as a motor bike to help people to gain access to the services and the training of staff in both Dili and in the districts. Women visiting from East Timor
Occasionally BMETS provides travel and accommodation assistance to Timorese women to visit Australia in order to raise awareness of issues and build their connections.
