Rebuilding Timor-Leste

After decades of brutal occupation Timor-Leste finally gained independence from Indonesia in 1999. However, the young nation was left impoverished and with much of its infrastructure destroyed. Since 2007 the Bendigo-Maubisse Friendship Committee has been traveling to Timor-Leste to assist with rebuilding in remote parts of the country.

Children in the remote areas of Timor-Leste mostly come from poor farming communities with little access to education or health services

Power supply to remote areas of Timor-Leste is spasmodic at best as the country struggles to re-build after a decades long war of independence

Agriculture provides livelihoods for 80% of the population

Decades of war has left many people scarred and haunted by bad memories

This man would come to the school each day and sing songs of loss and fighting

As the Indonesians left Timor they employed a scorched earth policy, burning many homes, schools and community buildings on their way out

This tap was the only water supply for the entire school. On a good day it ran at a trickle leaving the school without drinking water, toilets or hand washing facilities

Children often walk for many kilometers each morning to attend school

Ivan Smith, from Rotary Australia, is one of a team of volunteers helping to re-build buildings in remote parts of Timor-Leste

The school at Flecha, Timor-Leste, doubled in size when the derelict buildings were re-built by the Rotary team from Australia