Our RAWCS Baguia Community Project is powering along. The 9 committee members, including Katrina Flynn from RC Hawthorn are on a mission to empower Baguia school students with the necessary tools for educational success.
Guided by in RPM member/country manager, Leopoldina Guterres, we carried out a comprehensive needs analysis, including information from the Timorese government, other Rotary Clubs and NGOs in Timor Leste. Individual educational assessments were conducted in each of the 9 schools covered by this project.
The most important need was to replace text books lost in a mudslide in 2020. This was achieved by our Virtual Cocktail Party celebrating RPM’s first birthday in November, 2020.
Over the last 12 months, we sent over 2 loads of educational materials including laptops, musical instruments, sewing machines, sporting equipment, art supplies, clothing. Logistics was sponsored by Rotary club of Altona City.
Highlights from these shared containers organised by DIK were the Days for Girls Hygiene Kits and 1525 Solar Buddy lights enabling students to study at night. The DFG Kits have inspired 3 girl leaders to study the Ambassador of Women’s Health Course. Solar Buddy Solar lights were donated via RPMer Russell Gauld who also is the Education Director for this outstanding NGO. Solar Buddy also sponsored the in-country logistics from Dili to Baguia. We really are grateful to Russell and NGO Solar Buddy for their generous donation.
Now that we have some equipment to share amongst the schools, the teachers have requested that we consider providing scholarships for Middle and High School students.
Deputy Project Director Luigi hosted a “Curry and Pasta against Poverty” lunch in Ballarat. December 1 to support student scholarships and Citizenship awards for students who demonstrate positive behaviours. These are vouchers that student can spend at the school shop. We made over $1687.00 and there still is money coming in.
In the pipeline is the Inaugural RPM teacher and student awards based on a concept developed by our partners at Altona City Rotary Club. Watch this Space.
