Information Pack For

Prospective Volunteers

1www.bafuturu.org

Introduction

Firstly, thank you for choosing to volunteer for Ba Futuru, your support will be invaluable to our organisation.

With your skills and relevant qualifications as an international volunteer and professional in your field, you will play an important role in assisting the development of Ba Futuru and the capacity training of Timorese national staff members as well as gaining new experiences in the unique environment of Ba Futuru and Timor-Leste.

Ba Futuru’s Ideology

Ba Futuru uses a starfish as is emblem to symbolise the fact that every child matters. This concept comes from the story of the girl and starfish. In this story, a girl is seen on the beach putting starfish one by one back into the sea to save their lives. Someone stops to ask her: “Why are you doing this, there are thousands of starfish drying out in the sun and you can’t save them!” In the story she responds, “To me each and every starfish matters.”

Some people look at the plight of children in conflict areas like Timor-Leste, and they think that these children face too many problems so one person can’t possibly do enough to help, but Ba Futuru believes that despite the overwhelming problems faced by children in Timor-Leste, it is important to work to empower each child, as well as to work to provide skills to those individuals who affect the lives of children to create a situation where their rights can be upheld and they can receive the psychosocial support and protection that they are entitled to. Every child matters!

Ba Futuru’s Programmes

Ba Futuru’s national and international staff are well trained, professional individuals who work towards attaining peace, reducing violence and creating gender equality in Timor-Leste. In many circumstances, Ba Futuru’s innovative and effective TAHRE Manual is used to assist programmes and trainings given to local community leaders, children, police, teachers, government workers and parents.

The TAHRE curriculum includes skill building activities about non-violent conflict resolution, human rights, gender-based violence and child rights. A supplementary manual about non-violent discipline is also used for positive discipline training for adults. Theses manuals important tools that are used in many of our programmes which focus on the below areas:

• Conflict Mitigation

• Child Protection

• Peace Building

• Education

• Human Rights

• Gender Empowerment

• Sustainable Development

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Ba Futuru’s Values and Ideas on Capacity Building

Ba Futuru believes in the values and rights of every individual. As an organisation Ba Futuru creates opportunities for Timorese national staff members that enhance skills to assist them in their working lives by funding their participation in online remote courses and in-country and external trainings and conferences. International volunteers also harbour an array of skills and qualifications which are utilised for the imperative capacity training. This is a very positive attribute which leads to the continuous development of the organisation and the educational advancement of every Timorese staff member.

What Do We Want From a Volunteer?

Volunteers are chosen based on their qualifications and experiences tailored towards working in an NGO, development, educational and third world environment. We are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who would like to offer their skills, whether you are a charity fundraiser, trained lawyer, graphic designer, IT worker or economist! Ba Futuru normally asks volunteers to donate their time for a minimum of 3 months, however if you are a trained teacher, have other skills that will enable you to integrate immediately into our programmes, or if you are already based in Timor-Leste, then this can be altered.

Embassy Assistance

Local embassies regularly assist in the essential development of Ba Futuru by giving valuable financial support. Moreover, embassies based in Dili also give aid to their national residents. It is advisable to contact your country’s Foreign Office to enquire about in-country contacts and issues that might occur during your stay before you travel. If your country has no embassy, your government might be affiliated with another, which means that in the case of an emergency such as evacuation, you can obtain support.

The following countries have embassies located in Dili:

Portugal; the United States of America; Australia; Brazil; Malaysia; New Zealand; Japan; China; Cuba; Korea; and Indonesia.

The British Embassy in Jakarta is affiliated with the New Zealand Embassy in Dili, so if you are a UK national you may register with this embassy to gain assistance if needed.

Location

East Timor, officially known as Timor-Leste, is a state situated in Southeast Asia comprising the eastern half of the island of Timor, the islands of Atauro and Jaco, and the enclave of Oecusse which is surrounded by West Timor. The country is small, measuring 15,410 km²[6]and is located about 640 km northwest of Darwin, Australia.

History

Timor-Leste was colonised by Portugal in the 16th century and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal's decolonization of the country. In 1975, Timor-Leste declared its independence however 9 days later Indonesia invaded

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and occupied the country, declaring it to be its 27th province. Following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination in 1999, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002. The country is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines.

Timor-Leste has a lower-middle-income economy and suffers from the repercussions of its struggle for independence against Indonesia that greatly damaged its infrastructure and displaced thousands of civilians.

Map & Important Statistics

Total population of Timor-Leste: 1,114,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 5,100

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years) 64/69

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003) 48/52

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births) 55

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population) 237/161

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006) 169

Climate/ Natural Hazards

Lying in close proximity to Northern Australia, Timor-Leste’s weather bears great similarity to its neighbour with very hot periods when temperatures can reach 35 degrees. It also lies very close to the equator, giving it a tropical climate. Subject to a monsoon season, Timor-Leste can experience heavy rainfall during November to March and high levels of humidity. When the wet season ends, temperatures can rise so that the air becomes very dry.

Due to heavy rainfall, it is very common for Timor-Leste to experience flash flooding, making roads quite hazardous. In addition, it is not unusual for the country to experience small earthquakes because it lies within Asia Pacific’s “Ring of Fire.” However, these are generally very deep and out at sea, and so have had to date no devastating consequence.

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Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006) 16.

2008 WHO Statistics

Health

Before entering the country you must ensure that you have received appropriate vaccinations. Please consult your doctor about what vaccinations you need at least 3-4 months before your arrival. There is a high risk of malaria and dengue fever in Timor-Leste. Malaria can be prevented by taking anti-malarial tablets however they are not recommended for long periods and because there is no medicine for Dengue it is generally recommended that you prevent them both by wearing mosquito repellent, avoiding being outdoor in evening hours, having electronic mosquito killing devices in your home and/or using a mosquito net.

The best way to ensure you do not get bitten is to cover up and use mosquito spray on your body and in your home, with more vigorous application during the rainy season. If you get sick, there is an Australian Embassy Doctor and Stamford Clinic who can deal with minor ailments. However, it is essential to have good medical insurance before entering the country if the unfortunate circumstance arrives that you must be sent abroad for international medical care. There are relatively good pharmacies throughout Dili which supply a good stock of medicine, however, for specific medicines related to personal health problems it is advisable to bring a supply with you. It also is strongly recommended that you visit an opticians and dentist before your arrival in Dili.

Visa Requirements/Immigration

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Firstly, please check that you have over 6 month’s validity on your passport before booking your ticket and coming to Timor-Leste. Visas are issued on entry to Timor-Leste once an immigration form is completed, they cannot be purchased online or in a travel agency. You are able to buy one month visa for $30 at the airport on your arrival. If you are staying longer you will need to apply for a three month visa at Dili’s Immigration Office. If your 3 month visa is near its expiry, you will have to travel out of the country and then re-enter so that the visa process can be repeated.

Living in Dili

Ba Futuru will assist in helping you secure accommodation before or after you arrive which will more than likely be shared. If you haven’t secured accommodation before arrival, you will need to stay in hotel style accommodation until you other options arise. Timor Lodge is cheap and is located very close to Ba Futuru it has an outdoor pool and restaurant, but it is not fancy. Other private bathroom hotel accommodation is priced at around $40-120/night.

There are numerous things to do outside of work in Timor-Leste. The country is blessed with untouched beaches and beautiful scenery. Atauro Island, beautiful and seemingly distant from the hustle and bustle of Dili, is only a 40 minute speed- boat ride away. Jaco Island is an 7 hour drive and a paradise untouched that is considered scared. Maubisse, a small town up in the mountains, is worth going to for a break from the heat. Closer to home lies Jesus Backside Beach, which is just a 30 minute drive out of Dili, perfect for snorkelling and diving. Further afield are Bali and Darwin (with daily flights) and Singapore (three flights per week) which range from between 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes away. Bali is possibly the cheapest option.

Eating Out

For a developing country, Timor-Leste has a few good restaurants with various cuisines including Japanese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Western, Turkish and of course many warungs that serve Indonesian and Timorese food. Traditional Timorese food is normally only cooked at home but you will be able to sample it at events including birthdays, weddings and conferences. Restaurant recommendations include: Discovery Inn, Gion (Japanese) that serves great tuna sushi, Little Pattya (Thai), and Nautalis Restaurant.

Activities

There are several activity clubs you can join in Dili including yoga, pilates, the Hash Harriers running club, cycling, boxing, football and jujitsu. There are also numerous DVD shops, so there is no need to bring any films with you.

Diving and snorkelling are also very popular, with several good dive spots. There are two PADI centres that offer accredited dive courses in Dili, both located on Beach Road.

Bars and Clubs

There are a select few decent bars in Dili. Castaway’s is a regular haunt that has good cocktails and beers and - a pool table. Esplanada has more of a chillout with comfortable seats overlooking the sea. Drinks are tasty and it serves

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decent food. Many of the night clubs have fights that break out from time to time, and you can get groped or grabbed by youth hanging out by the door and following you to your car, so you should always go in groups and have someone walk you to your car.

What to Wear

Timor-Leste is mainly a Catholic. It is not unusual for local men, women and children to stare at internationals and call out malae or foreigner. To minimise attention it is best to wear conservative, light clothing that keeps you keep cool and prevents mosquito bites. Everyone’s level of comfort is different, but dress sense is much more conservative outside of Dili. Also, when swimming in the sea particularly outside of Dili, you may consider wearing a t-shirt and shorts over a swimming costume. Ba Futuru’s dress code is casual for regular days but staff dress more formally for trainings, meetings and conferences. Please do not wear anything low cut, or that shoes your belly. Also keep shorts and skirts just above the knee, as too short draws attention.

Shopping

There are several good supermarkets in Dili which supply a range of imported goods and essentials. Timor’s first shopping mall opened in 2013 and has a cinema, Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop and a Burger King, amongst other restaurants. Tais, Timor’s beautiful woven fabrics, can be bought at the Tais Market in Dili or at the Alola Foundation which assists and encourages those that practise weaving to improve their skills. Timorese wood carvers are also particularly talented and there is a rising and interesting art school, Arte Moris, which holds exhibitions showing works by local Timorese artists every so often.

Language

Conversations are generally held in Tetum or English. Tetum is a relatively easy language to learn and Ba Futuru’s staff and youth are always happy to practice and teach. A good language book was created by the Peace Corps and Mai Koalia Tetun is also a good learning tool. There is a good fast track language course at Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) you can complete in one week or you can find your own teacher for a small fee per lesson. When at work it is common for colleagues to use English and Tetum. The majority of Ba Futuru’s staff are Timorese. This will make it easier for you to pick up the language as you will have the opportunity to practice daily.

Getting Around

Cars are expensive to buy but are worth purchasing if you have the money and will be stationed in Timor long term. An international Drivers licence can be used for up to 6 months of driving in Timor-Leste. A Timorese driving licence should be arranged if you are in country for longer than this. If you have an international license you can apply for a Timorese license without having to take a driving exam. At times Timorese Transport Police set up check points throughout the city to look at licenses and car registration documents. Therefore, if you are driving it is a good idea for

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you to carry your International or Timorese license at all times. However, if these documents are needed elsewhere, it is a good idea to carry photocopies with you.

The roads in Dili are ok, with an occasional large hole often signalled by a rock or tyre, so when driving at night, you must be especially careful. There is also a lack of street lamps which can make conditions slightly worse when it is dusty during the evening or raining hard and drivers can be somewhat erratic. If you wish to travel outside the city it is essential to have/rent (or to find someone that has) a 4x4 for the same reasons. Alternatively, you can hire or buy a motorbike or moped, although this is less advisable for long journeys. Taxi’s are relatively cheap but not known to be safe, particularly at night, ranging from $1-4 a journey depending on where you wish to travel to in Dili, or you can take a microlet – a Timorese mini bus which is up to 50c a journey.

Code of conduct – Child Protection Policy

Ba Futuru adheres to an international standard Child Protection Policy and follows the common values, principles and beliefs of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, CPU and DNRS. The policy sets out the common values, principles and beliefs that Ba Futuru shares with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the Directorate of Social Reinsertion (DNRS), and describes the steps that will be taken in meeting our commitment to protect children as guaranteed by the Constitution of Timor-Leste and Article 19 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. All Ba Futuru’s volunteers will be asked to sign this policy and adhere to its regulations.

Reading lists, Good Websites & Films for information on Timor-Leste

Books and Articles

A new, updated Lonely Planet Guide on East Timor (Rodney Cocks) is available including a summary of the country’s history, political situation and religion, listings of activities to do, accommodation and places to eat.

Other books recommended for background reading before your arrival are:

The Crossing: A Story of East Timor – Luis Cardoso & Margaret Jull Costa

If you Leave Us Here, We Will Die: How Genocide Was Stopped in East Timor (Human Rights and Crimes Against Humanity) – Geoffrey Robinson

The Independence of East Timor: Multi-Dimensional Perspectives – Occupation, Resistance, and International Political Activism – Clinton Fernandes

Justice and Conflict Resolution in East Timor: Integrating Indigenous Approaches into a “New Subsistence State” (Routledge Contemporary South East Asia Series)

East Timor, Australia and Regional Order: Intervention and its Aftermath in Southeast Asia – James Cotton

The Government and Politics of East Timor: From Occupation and Conflict to the Nation-State of Timor-Leste – Paul Hainsworth

20th Century in East Timor: Indonesian Occupation of East Timor, Indonesian Invasion of East Timor, Balibo Five and Santa Cruz Massacre, Falintil

The East Timor Question – Jose Ramos Horta, Stephen McCloskey, Paul Hainsworth and John Pilger 8

Resistance: A Childhood Fighting for East Timor – Naldo Rei

The Circle of Silence - Shirley Shackleton – Story accounting the death of Shirley’s husband, Greg Shackleton, one of the five Australian journalists killed in East Timor during the Indonesian invasion in 1975.

Films & Documentaries

Balibo (2009) – Set during the Indonesian invasion during the 70’s, this recent film tells the tragic story of the many lives lost and the 5 Australian journalists reporting on the invasion who vanished.

The Diplomat – Australian documentary about the history of East Timor, focusing on the years 1975 – 1999.

Bitter Paradise: The Sell Out of East Timor – A film about Elaine Briere, a Canadian journalist, who travels in East Timor unveiling Canada’s foreign policy towards Indonesia’s involvement in the invasion and occupation of East Timor.

Death of the Nation: The Timor Conspiracy (1994) – A short film whereby the renowned British journalist, John Pilger, reports on the Indonesian invasion and occupation of East Timor and the West’s aversion to assist the country.

Websites

www.etan.org – East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

www.gov.east-timor.org – Timor-Leste’s government website

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/etimor/etimor.htm - UN involvement in Timor-Leste

http://www.easttimor.org.uk/ - Some basic information about Timor-Leste

http://www.yale.edu/gsp/east_timor/ - A few interesting articles can be found on this website

Directions to Ba Futuru

Ba Futuru is situated very close to Dili’s Nicolau Lobato Airport. When leaving the airport, please enter the roundabout and turn right heading away from the centre of the town. Ba Futuru is based 2 minutes up this road (Comoro Road) on the left hand side and is clearly sign posted.

If you are unsure, please give Ba Futuru’s address below to your driver:

Ba Futuru/ For the Future, Peace Centre, Golgota, Comoro Road, Dili, Timor-Leste.

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Contact Details

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Ba Futuru’s Co-Founder and Program Manager Sierra James at bafuturu@bafuturu.org

Alternatively, please call Ba Futuru’s office on +670 3322437 to speak to a member of staff.

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