CHILDREN in East Timor will soon have better access to clean drinking water when Plan - a child centred community development agency - with support from executive search company The Insight Group - commences a three-year program in three rural communities.

The program, which also includes providing proper sanitation and hygiene education, will be launched on 20 May - the third anniversary of independence of the new nation of Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor).

Plan Australia national executive director Ian Wishart said more than 50 per cent of the population of Timor-Leste, which numbers nearly one million people, do not have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

"While negotiations over the oil and gas wealth in the Timor Sea look set to bring more than $3 billion in the long term to Timor-Leste, presently it is still one of the poorest countries of South East Asia," Mr Wishart said.

"In the meantime, before the oil and gas revenue flows and helps provide revenue to the government to increase its water/sanitation investment in rural areas, Timor-Leste is a country with a population that has a life expectancy rate of only 49 years. Nearly two thirds of the population live in rural areas where there is either no or very limited access to safe drinking water. Water-born diseases are rife. Children are often sick. And for every 1000 babies born, 126 will die before their fifth birthday," Mr Wishart said.

Mr Wishart said access to safe water and proper sanitation helps prevent water-born diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and dengue fever.

"Government funding for water and sanitation for rural areas totals less than $4000 per year. It is therefore paramount that Plan's water and sanitation program is focussed on rural regions where there is an acute lack of investment, infrastructure and maintenance," Mr Wishart said.

"Plan will be specifically working in districts where there is no presence of aid agencies and a need for intervention has been expressed by the Timor-Leste Government," Mr Wishart said.

After conducting a feasibility study, Plan identified rural areas most in need of water and sanitation intervention. And therefore will begin the program in the Aileau district and then expand into two further districts over the next three years.

Plan's $200,000 water and sanitation program, which will initially run for three years, has already been partly funded with a $30,000 donation from The Insight Group.

"With the help of supporters like the Insight Group, we can make a positive impact on the lives of children in Timor-Leste," Mr Wishart said.

The Insight Group director Peter Nisbet said helping provide clean water and improved sanitation for the people of Timor-Leste followed the business's philosophy of being part of a global community.

"The Insight Group and business in general operates in an increasingly globalised economy and has gained substantial benefits from this. However, many communities that underpin this economy, both in Australia and elsewhere, lack access to basic human needs, such as safe drinking water and proper sanitation," Mr Nisbet said.

"We believe in contributing back into these communities to the extent of our capacity . that is what our partnership with Plan hopes to achieve," Mr Nisbet said.

The balance of the funding for the program will include donations from the Australian public and business community.

Mr Wishart said the Timor-Leste water and sanitation program will be developed in consultation with the community, including children, especially in the areas of health and hygiene education, which will assist in the introduction of improved sanitation.

"Plan is committed to helping make a difference to the lives of children and their communities in Timor Leste. Plan's approach is always to work with communities so that change is instigated and directed by local people. Our experience has proven that the chance of success is improved if local indigenous knowledge, systems and resources are integrated," Mr Wishart said.

Tim Cansfield-Smith
Plan Australia Media & Communications Manager
Phone: 03 9672 3656
Mobile: 0411 642 194

www.insightsearch.com