Timor Leste - Los Palos Cultural Village
Los Palos - Cultural Village Peace Project
Location
Timor Leste, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Geography
Located in Southeast Asia, the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago, and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The highest point of East Timor is Mount Ramelau at 2,963 meters. The local climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, characterized by distinct rainy and dry seasons. The capital, largest city and main port are Dili. The population of East Timor is about one million (1,134,000). It has grown considerably recently, because of a high birth rate, but also because of the return of refugees.
Culture
The culture of East Timor reflects numerous influences, including Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Malaysia, on the indigenous Austronesia and Melanesian cultures of Timor. Legend has it that a giant crocodile was transformed into the island of Timor.
Illiteracy is still widespread, but there is a strong tradition of poetry. As for architecture, some Portuguese-style buildings can be found, along with the traditional totem houses of the eastern region (uma lulik). Craftsmanship is also widespread, as is the weaving of traditional scarves (tais). Timor was incorporated into Chinese and Indian trading networks of the 14th century as an exporter of aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey and wax.
In 2007 a bad harvest led to deaths in several parts of Timor-Leste. In November 2007, eleven sub districts still needed food supplied by international aid. East Timor also has a large and potentially lucrative coffee industry, which sells organic coffee to numerous Fair Trade retailers and on the open market. There are no patent laws in East Timor.
Socio-Economic
Timor-Leste is the world’s newest nation. It is also the poorest in South-East Asia. Lospalos, in the east, is typical of towns and villages in Timor-Leste. There is high unemployment, low income and poor access to education, health services, clean water and sanitation. The incidence of maternal and child mortality, preventable and curable disease, and domestic violence are all high. Rates of literacy and civic participation are low. Young people lack occupation and so suffer from boredom and a sense of hopelessness.
Timor-Leste is a lower-middle-income economy. It continues to suffer the after effects of a decades-long independence struggle against Indonesia, which damaged infrastructure and displaced thousands of civilians. It is placed 158th by Human Development Index (HDI) among the world’s states, the lowest in Asia.
Project Aim
To build a centre that encourages the ideas of culture and community, and strengthens peace and wellbeing in Lospalos through cultural and economic development.
- Intergenerational learning to engage all strata of society.
- Income generating activities through arts, crafts and cultural/eco tourism.
- Development skills for community in visual, performing and applied arts.
- Cultural heritage maintenance and protection through research and documentation.
- Inclusiveness to draw knowledge and skills of community members.
- Include training and International partnerships.
Objectives
- Crafts: toy making using wood where possible following Australian safety standards; Tais (traditional woven cloth) production such as cushion covers, bedspreads, lampshades, bags and clothes; natural fiber craft production using traditional weaving for baskets, mats and other crafts; earthen crafts productions both traditional and new designs; jewelry production; recycled craft production; essential oil products.
- Eco-Tourism – Cultural: tours of significant sites; hunting and gathering for food and medicinal materials; land management techniques such as responsible forestry; tours to different ethnic groups; tours to different areas; tours of colonial and migration areas; tours with dance, music and theatre through Centre or other locations; local and environmentally sensitive accommodation.
- Art: sale of art works produced through outside the Centre. The Centre could act as an Arts clearinghouse for the region illustrating the Centre and programs.
- Skills Development: drawing; painting; print making; sculpture; music; dance; theatre; circus; photography; film making; multimedia.
- Research and Recording: Tribal groups specifically; sacred sites; creation sites; magic and rituals; music, dance and song; traditional medicines and applications; traditional hunting, gathering and land management practices; historical accounts; material cultural production.
Physical Facilities Required
- Construction of centre to be based on traditional vernacular architecture and modern building design.
- Main building: reception; administration; gallery; library; archives; theatre; studios/classrooms for painting, woodwork, weaving, music, dance writing and multimedia; photographic darkroom; toilet block; vegetable and other gardens (i.e. flower, sculpture, interactive etc.), and boarding house for students from outside the main town.
Sustainability
- Renewable energy resources as well as water and waste water recycling.
- Easily accessible and local building materials that can endure ease of maintenance.
- Intergenerational learning.
- Practice of culture.
- Maintenance of sites of significance.
- The Management will hire/forge close links with retail outlets to market some of the products produce during training.
- Sponsorships from Individuals, industry players and donor agencies will be aggressively sought to subsidize fees to meet some of the recurrent expenditure.
- Website will be created to market the products and illustrate the Centre.
- Income generated through Centre’s activities.
- Long-term support.
- Managed by community with an initial plan/investment of 10 years.
