The BMFC directs its focus to the areas of education, health, arts and culture, public infrastructure and schools, and local community and lifestyle in accordance with its strategic plan. Maubisse’s community members have final approval for all projects and programs, which are designed to meet the needs and priorities identified during the biennial friendship consultation and review held in Maubisse by representatives of the community and the BMFC.

Education

The BMFC’s scholarship program was established in 2015 at the request of administrators in Maubisse. The intent was to encourage more students to complete their high school diploma (especially girls), and build the capacity of the Maubisse community.

Students are funded independently to undertake their studies with the support of donations from Victorian businesses, Rotary clubs, companies, families and individual sponsors. For university students the scholarship program also provides a laptop and funding for thesis studies and fieldwork.

University students are studying a range of courses including medicine, nutrition, midwifery, civil engineering, political science, secondary teaching and computer technology. Whilst not all scholarship students take up university study, the program has enabled others to find employment or undertake an apprenticeship.

The program, which is delivered in partnership with the Fundasaun Alola Education Consultancy team, is highly valued by the Maubisse community. Discussions at the July 2019 biennial friendship consultation in Maubisse confirmed support from all nine chefes (chiefs) from each of the sucos (villages), with indications that the way families are viewing education is rapidly changing. Where once there was a widespread practice of keeping students at home to assist with household chores and support for the family, the scholarship program has driven an understanding that gaining an education is important for changing the future of the community. Families are now making huge sacrifices accordingly.

Health

The BMFC provides support for Maubisse Hospital with medical and dentistry training and equipment, together with assisting in the delivery of dental services. The BMFC also provides assistance and support for programs related to nutrition, malnutrition and hygiene – in particular, a program for young girls. The scarcity of dental health services and oral hygiene education is a major health issue in Timor-Leste, and the number of dentists and/or dental therapists is very low.
Many of the Timorese population do not access dental services, mainly due to the shortage of services and affordability. Therefore, the Maubisse and District Dental Project is a priority. The program is making strong progress based on three key strategies:

1. Improve the standard of dental care at the Maubisse Hospital Dental Clinic and the health outposts
2. Support oral health education in the Maubisse and District Schools
3. Support the professional development of Maubisse dental personnel

Arts and culture

Programs that develop and nurture local skills and talent are continually
run by the BMFC, particularly in schools.

Through the work of a number of project teams, it has become clear that the children of Maubisse have embraced art. Timor-Leste’s education system does not include visual arts in the curriculum, and consequently this initiative fills an educational gap while providing children with valuable opportunities to express themselves. The arts program has provided materials and educational opportunities for students attending Maubisse schools from years 2-12 and began in 2015.

Following consultation with the subdistrict and the local schools, the BMFC now aims to hand over the continuation of the program to the Maubisse community. This will necessitate the nomination of a local teacher to care for the materials, initiate and conduct the classes.

Over the years the art program has been extended to engage with local women and men in the conduct of sewing classes, including donation of materials and equipment to provide incentive for ongoing projects. It is likely that a small sewing business involving local women will eventuate.

Public infrastructure and schools

With Timor-Leste’s government and subdistrict administration having built capacity to deliver infrastructure projects on their own using local resources, the BMFC no longer sees the need to send work teams to construct and/or refurbish public infrastructure. If it is an agreed priority with the subdistrict administration of Maubisse, the BMFC will consider financial contributions to assist in delivering projects that involve the application of local labour and materials.

The committee’s container shipping program continues to provide donated materials, goods and equipment needed to improve the quality of life for the local Maubisse community, particularly for schools throughout the subdistrict. The average cost of sending a container to Maubisse from Bendigo is in the order of $6,500. With more than 40 containers sent thus far, a substantial commitment and outlay has been made. Taking into account team participation, human resources needed to load a container, committee time and fundraising, it is estimated that the Bendigo community has to date provided in excess of 650 volunteer hours for the container shipping program.

Local community and lifestyle

The BMFC continues to support the provision of knitted clothing in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst. Whilst governance of this project is the responsibility of the Rotary Club, the BMFC ensures transport and provision of containers, and negotiates with the Maubisse administration regarding the ongoing need and distribution of clothing throughout the Maubisse subdistrict.

A dedicated team in excess of 500 knitters from across Victoria, and a few located interstate, knit clothing that is distributed to the hospital, the pre-birth mothers’ clinic and across the many remote villages of the Maubisse subdistrict. Whilst the cost of containers is provided through the BMFC’s budget, the Rotary Club contributes to the financial cost of transporting these materials to Timor-Leste. Feedback is sought annually from the Maubisse community, who continue to provide positive feedback about the importance of this project, and adjustments to the project are made as these are identified.

In consultation with the BMFC, the Maubisse community has expressed a wish to develop regional tourism, a wish that has been echoed by municipal officers of the broader Ainaro region. Where government-to-government assistance is appropriate, the BMFC will refer to City of Greater Bendigo (the City) staff as per the Municipal Cooperation Agreement. There may also be opportunities for the BMFC and the City to collaborate with the Ballarat Friends of Ainaro Community Committee (BFACC) and the City of Ballarat on joint tourism projects, such as a walking trail similar to the Camino de Santiago walking tour. This was a potential initiative discussed at joint committee meeting in February 2020.

The implications of food security and agriculture for nutrition, wellbeing and economic prosperity, and Maubisse’s reputation as the ‘food bowl’ of Timor Leste offer opportunities for further exploration. Previous project teams have consulted with the agricultural school located in nearby Horaiquic, with discussions identifying priorities to improve the school and create avenues for increased food production and income streams that can benefit the whole community. The BMFC would like to revisit these discussions and priorities in consultation with the Maubisse community and the agricultural school in the near future.