Topic

"Ex-soldiers Now Take Up the Shovel and Hoe"

Timor Leste, having won its independence in 1999, still has about 36,000 ex-soldiers who lack job opportunities. They missed a normal education since their youth was taken up with continuous battles in the war for independence. OISCA thinks that one of the best occupations for them is farming.

In March this year, the Community Development Training Center run by OISCA in Timor Leste started the RESPECT PROJECT, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program. RESPECT stands for Recovery, Employment and Stability Programme for Ex-combatants and Communities in Timor-Leste.

Fifteen ex-soldiers were selected for RESPECT in March 2004 and began their two and a half months of hands-on agricultural training. Their technical instructor was Mr. Smirat, who learned agriculture at OISCA Karanganyar Training Center. He has six years of farming experience in Timor Leste, and is familiar with the climate and soil of the country. Sophisticated equipment or high technology is not used in the training, but instead the trainees are instructed in methods that they can easily adopt upon their return home.

On May 12, 2004, many dignitaries attended the graduation ceremony for the trainees. Each trainee was presented with not only with a certificate, but also a shovel and hoe set. The graduates of earlier courses had already started cultivating vegetables such as tomatoes, red peppers, Chinese cabbage, eggplant, etc., at their homes. The graduates of RESPECT promised to follow the examples the forerunners, the graduates of earlier courses by making use of the implements.

On May 12, 2004, the day of graduation, the second batch of trainees arrived and their training course started right away. Training is expected to last until the middle of July. The Center is now a most attractive spot for those concerned about the development and stability of this country.

In July 2004, it is scheduled that Mr. Mirandolindo A. Guterres, former trainee of OISCA Nishi Nippon Training Center, Japan will succeed Mr. Hitoshi Arayashiki, Japanese representative, as Director of the Community Development Training Center. Mr. Guterres will inherit the accomplishments of the Center and surely live up to the expectations of colleagues and supporters of his activities.


	January 2003: February 2003: March 2003: April 2003: May 2003: June 2003: July 2003: August 2003: September 2003: October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 February 2004 April 2004 May 2004	Rabaul Center Establishes a System for Recycling Life and Livelihood Renovating School Forests for Environmental Education OISCA Makes Contributions to the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development' through the WSSD Elephant Gifts from Surin, Thailand OISCA Graduates Work to Support Palawan T.C. Tree Planting for the "Bridge of Forests Pioneering Women's Training in Bangladesh Fighting Poverty with Silk in the Philippines Mangrove Belt Expands to 50 km in Chokoria, Bangladesh Tree Planting Day with Youth from China and Japan OISCA Graduates Serve for Community-Building in Fiji CFP Activities Expanded Successful School Construction with Indonesian Villagers Efforts to Create a Local Sericulture Industry in North Sumatra Utilization of School Forests for Environmental Education