Please Help Us Help Timor & VSA

Helen and Alastair are leaving their home in Wellington and giving time and energy to volunteer to help in Timor-Leste. Could you help us and Volunteer Service Abroad?

Timor-Leste (East Timor) is a small, young country, just north of Australia, that is desperately trying to build a nation after decades of war and devestation. Essentially it has lost a generation of experience, culture and wealth. The median age is 19, and while the people are warm and enthusiastic, they need some help. Alastair is being sent by Volunteer Services Abroad to work with a Timorese business development agency (IADE) to provide advice and mentoring and support the development of small and medium businesses. Helen will use her film, photographic and artistic skills to support and preserve the indigenous culture of the Island state.

CHECK OUT IADE's "SUPER TRAINER" VIDEO ABOVE. It may make you laugh, but it illustrates the degree to which really basic training is required to help build the nation.

YOU CAN HELP. We are raising money for two purposes:

1. We are trying to raise money to help VSA send out more volunteers like us to Timor and the Pacific - putting New Zealanders with relevant experience right where they are needed. We've been stunned by the professionalism and commitment of VSA, but It costs a lot to recruit and support volunteers in developing countries. We are targeting $4,000 for VSA to help them develop their services.

2. Nation-building has to be about culture as well as art. If more than $4,000 is donated we will contribute 40% of the excess to a small fund we have set up to help record and support art in Dili and the remote districts (With the balance going to VSA). Money will be spent on video equipment and local travel to create a documentary film on the art and culture of Timor. (Any unused money in this fund will be donated to Arte Moris, a free school/gallery in Timor, which supports local artists).