Now I am in Timor Leste for another 8 weeks and things are really busy with lots of clients being referred, end of financial year reports and anxiety about future DFAT and European  funding.
 
The Brexit is a big issue here as many Timorese travel to work in UK, England and Ireland, on their Portuguese passports and it generates good income for families as unemployment is high here .
 
I will be going to the prison in Gleno (in the mountains) next week,  to visit the women there and monitor the PRADET program. It was thanks to your Rotary we have kept it going and now AFAP is supporting it for another year..  so that’s great. We are negotiating the start of a sewing program whereby the women can make things in the prison that can be sold. This earns them some money to keep it going, provides an activity for the long hours they are locked up  plus teaches them skills to make things and be more economically independent when they are released. The Prison Commander is a lovely man who was trained in Australia and is very supportive.
 
Finally just to let you know about our tragic website!! PRADET has just employed a new IT person and updating/improving the website is part of his job.
Things often happen slowly here and sometimes not at all, but every now and then a miracle seems to make things happen straight away..! so we shall see…
I have heard it’s very cold in Sydney..  right now I am basking in very pleasant 28 degrees and low humidity..
 
The country is challenging but at least it’s warm!
 
Bye for now   Susan
 
Susan Kendall AM
Social Worker
Mentor PRADET East Timor
Mob: Australia (+61) 0408 962 709
Mob: Timor Leste (+670) 7726 2744