Tricolona Junior High School Renovation Project A
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In October 2009 the Trust facilitated a group from the Chinese International School (CIS) in Hong Kong travelling to Timor-Leste to help renovate the Administration Building of the Tricolona Junior High School. This is a project that had been proposed by Aurelio Gusmao, a very committed contact that the Trust has in Timor-Leste, and John Green met with him to assess its potential during the selection visit in February 2009.
The Tricolona Junior High School is in a rural location about 10km from Timor-Leste’s second city of Baucau. It serves three local villages and a total of about 400 students. The photographs below show that it was definitely in need of some renovation!
It was decided that the first place to start would be the administration block, as that would enhance overall school pride and would be equally shared by all students. The CIS team, headed by Jamie O’Connor and Trevor Harris, undertook to raise the US$2000 that would be required for the materials needed for the renovation work; the sponsored walk being the main focus of their activities. In the meantime Aurelio set to work to make all the local arrangements; a daunting list that included enlisting the help of local craftsmen, finding suitable accommodation and somebody to cook meals. Space does not permit a record of the innumerable hiccups on the way, but eventually all was in place. Flights, via Singapore (involving changing planes in 45 minutes on the return!) were booked and another staff member, Gale Lok, recruited.
John headed down a couple of days earlier to liaise with Aurelio over last minute details and there were plenty of these. For example Aurelio, who had taken the week off work, had to leave Baucau in the early hours of the morning for the bumpy bus ride to Dili to collect some cash from John to pay for the mattresses that he had been assured were there! Eventually, at lunchtime on Tuesday 13th October, the CIS group arrived at Dili airport and squeezed themselves into the bus alongside all the paint tins and jaws dropped at the spectacular views on the 3 hour drive to the accommodation. This was at a NGO called Laho, which has being trying to establish the raising of silk worms in Timor-Leste. It was very well judged balance between acceptably simple and unacceptably primitive as the photos show!
Critically, the food provided was excellent and plentiful, plus the accommodation was also very conveniently located, a half hour’s walk through picturesque local villages. As it was the dry season these morning and evening strolls were truly delightful and the witnessing at first hand the difficulties of village life added to the educational value of the trip.
When we arrived at the school we found a large team of local students ready to work alongside of us and over the next few days we managed to transform the school, so that it definitely looked a lot smarter than when we arrived!
After work there was time to relax with our new friends and communicate through the international languages of basketball and volleyball. Unfortunately all too soon it was time to say our goodbyes and, after a quick dip in the sea near Dili, pick up our flights home via Singapore (yes we did make our connection!) with lots of wonderful memories of this beautiful country and its warm-hearted people.
John Green
CEO of BFMT Hong Kong Branch
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