Success!

When Henry Oosterbaan and Peter Snell arrived safely back in Perth last Sunday, it marked the end of what was a truly wonderful month for Connect East Timor: a month that will long be remembered as a turning point by the many people who, now have access to reliable and affordable communications in their villages for the first time.

It is also an appropriate time to pause for a moment, to wave the flag and to celebrate the success achieved with completion of the Pilot Project (Installation Stage). 

All our recently returned volunteers would acknowledge that, while they were able to contribute their skills, expertise and time, it is everyone in the CET family - including our supporters and donors, the Directors and Staff of the Ministry of Infrastructure, and our Palms and community contacts on the ground in Timor-Leste – who, together, created the opportunity for what has now been realized:

ü       About 20,000 people in Balibo and Lacluta provided with affordable access to basic, solar powered communications

ü       Balibo sub-District Administrator’s office networked to 8 major villages via a new repeater

ü       Lacluta sub-District Administrator’s office linked to the District Administrator in Viqueque and also networked to 7 major villages via a new repeater constructed on a bare site; two villages were were only accessible on foot and equipment was ‘back-packed’ to these

ü       Dili District Administrator networked with three sub- District offices via a newly constructed repeater on Atauro Island located some 40kms away (and also provided with two vehicle mounted radios as well as three hand-held radio units, all fully operational)

ü       Atabae sub District: provided with a new village radio installation at Aidabaleten and CET also completed a full maintenance check of the network installed there in 2005.

Thank you!  I stand in awe of what has been achieved with the many hearts that are now on fire for the vision that is Connect East Timor. 

Today I received a report from Dino in Lacluta that the newly installed CET radio network has already, and successfully, assisted in securing expert medical help for two women having difficulties in childbirth.                                Peter de Haas

Next Stages

The CET team has been carefully considering the next steps of the Campaign which will be directed towards two main outcomes:

Ø        Ongoing monitoring and support of the Demonstration and Pilot networks installed by CET

Ø        Working with the Government of Timor-Leste to secure funding for full scale implementation of basic, solar powered radio networks to all 66 sub-Districts and 480 villages

More detailed information on the nest stages, and how you might be able to support these, will be provided in coming weeks.