Water conservation training for Aileu rural youth
Donation protected
PERMATIL (Permaculture Timor-Leste), led by singer-songwriter, environmental activist and educator Ego Lemos, has been working with local communities throughout Timor-Leste for 20 years promoting practical approaches to sustainable local agriculture.
It has become apparent that across many areas, including Aileu, springs and small streams are drying-up as a result of reduced forest cover, erosion and soil compaction and the compounding effects of climate change. The diminishing availability of reliable and clean water supplies for household and agricultural uses is impacting on the health and well-being of the community and inhibiting efforts to grow a greater variety of more nutritious foods.
To help local communities address these issues, Friends of Aileu is partnering with PERMATIL to provide access to practical water resource management training for young people from Aileu's rural villages.
With funds donated by Merri Health we were able to support the participation of village leaders and young people in a PERMATIL training camp in Laulara, Aileu, over the World Water Day weekend last March. Along with representatives of villages in other municipalities, the Aileu participants exchanged their own contemporary knowledge, experiences and practices, reflected on past conditions and traditional practices and came away inspired to improve the water resources in their own localities. Together, these young people and the communities have developed and implemented local solutions to water source management and conservation in over 70 locations throughout Timor-Leste.
There is still much to be done, however, to provide young people from other communities with the knowledge, skills and inspiration to do the same.
We are asking for your support to help continue this important work, the next phase of which is another 4-day camp in early October in Dare on the outskirts of Dili and near Laulara.
At the October camp more young people, chosen by the village leaders, will learn water resource management principles and take part in practical activities relating to the protection of springs and streams and recharging ground water.
After the camp, the participants will apply what they have learnt in the own villages, working with their communities to improve their access to more reliable, cleaner water for household and agricultural uses.
100% of all donations will be used in Timor-Leste to help cover expenses of the Aileu participants, including the $US 15 per person per day cost of food and educational materials, transport to and from the camp and camping materials.
It has become apparent that across many areas, including Aileu, springs and small streams are drying-up as a result of reduced forest cover, erosion and soil compaction and the compounding effects of climate change. The diminishing availability of reliable and clean water supplies for household and agricultural uses is impacting on the health and well-being of the community and inhibiting efforts to grow a greater variety of more nutritious foods.
To help local communities address these issues, Friends of Aileu is partnering with PERMATIL to provide access to practical water resource management training for young people from Aileu's rural villages.
With funds donated by Merri Health we were able to support the participation of village leaders and young people in a PERMATIL training camp in Laulara, Aileu, over the World Water Day weekend last March. Along with representatives of villages in other municipalities, the Aileu participants exchanged their own contemporary knowledge, experiences and practices, reflected on past conditions and traditional practices and came away inspired to improve the water resources in their own localities. Together, these young people and the communities have developed and implemented local solutions to water source management and conservation in over 70 locations throughout Timor-Leste.
There is still much to be done, however, to provide young people from other communities with the knowledge, skills and inspiration to do the same.
We are asking for your support to help continue this important work, the next phase of which is another 4-day camp in early October in Dare on the outskirts of Dili and near Laulara.
At the October camp more young people, chosen by the village leaders, will learn water resource management principles and take part in practical activities relating to the protection of springs and streams and recharging ground water.
After the camp, the participants will apply what they have learnt in the own villages, working with their communities to improve their access to more reliable, cleaner water for household and agricultural uses.
100% of all donations will be used in Timor-Leste to help cover expenses of the Aileu participants, including the $US 15 per person per day cost of food and educational materials, transport to and from the camp and camping materials.
Organizer
Christopher Adams
Organizer
Batman VIC
