WATER PROJECT IN TIMOR LESTE
Rotary Club of Ascot (District 9465 Perth Western Australia) has completed a project to provide fresh, safe drinking water to some 2500 inhabitants living in the remote area of St Bakhita Community, Eraulo, Ermera, Timor Leste. The project involved laying a 12 km pipeline from a water source some 2000 metres above sea level and then gravity feeding ten surrounding hamlets. To donate to this project, please click here
The total cost of the project was US$34,000 with funds being raised with direct donations from the public and fund raising activities undertaken by the club. The Project is registered under Rotary Australia World Community Services Ltd (RAWCS) enabling donations to be tax deductable.
Two members of our club together with the son of one of our members visited the area prior to commencement of the project to see first-hand what would be involved and also spoke to the community as to the process to be undertaken for buying material, transport of material and then the construction and laying of the pipe and water tanks.
The exciting thing about this project was that the local chief, school master, and appointed local project manager worked and supplied a budget for the material costs. We as Rotarians liaised with the local hardware supplier to ensure all materials would be available, and through the Rotary Liaison Officer/ROMAC Coordinator situated in Timor Leste all funds sent would go 100% to the project. Labour would be supplied by local members of the community (No administration costs, No labour hire costs, No cost of material transport).
4 x 10,000 litre plus 6 x 4,000 litre water tanks have strategically been placed over the 12 km, with feeder pipes to tap stands laid to the 10 surrounding hamlets.
Prior the installation of water tanks, village children had to walk several kms to the water source of mountain springs on a daily basis. Invariably this task falls to the younger family members with children making many return trips of 3-5 kms to provide adequate daily water supplies for the families’ drinking, washing, cooking and for their few domestic animals. In turn children did not attend school but carried water!
Having returned and watching the faces of both children and adults to have running fresh water at their door step, makes you appreciate the success of this wonderful project. One of many comments made by the local chiefs was “At the age of 70 never in my life time would I have thought to have fresh running water at my door step. I can now truly witness my children enjoy such a precious commodity”.
The second phase is now being undertaken with a further 5 kms of piping to be installed so 43 more hamlets with 390 locals can also enjoy fresh water. In addition 5 toilets (both male and female together with wash area) are being built as no such facilities have been available to date.
Overall cost is a further US$26,000 where-by the Rotary Clubs of Ascot and Broome will be fund raising from the community.
To make as donation to this project, please click here