Hitting the Waves - "Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste" Takes a Nautical Turn

 "Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste" at sea.

Aside from finishing a total of 102 tiga roda, the painting crew at Creative Sablon interspersed their efforts on land with efforts at sea to deck out the boats moored in Dili Harbor. Organized by Peace Dividend Trust's Matchmaking Associate Brigida Soares, 10 boats are now finely displaying the "Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste" message on their hulls, cabins and sides. Among these boats is the fishing boat Manutasi that weekenders to Atauro will recognize as their return vessel to Dili that braves the short voyage Monday mornings.

The outside view of the cabin of the Manutasi. 

Mrs. Soares also had the opportunity to brief local media about the project, raising awareness of  the impact purchasing local goods and services in Timor-Leste has on the local economy. Televisaun Timor-Leste (TVTL) featured Mrs. Soares on Friday March 22nd, covering her activities in Dili Harbor and promoting Peace Dividend Trusts' activities in Timor-Leste. Other media outfits that spoke with Mrs. Soares were Televisaun Suara Timor-Leste (TV STL), Diario Nacional, and Radio Televisaun Timor-Leste (RTTL).

Mrs. Soares giving an interview to RTTL.

An interview at the beach with TV STL.

Another interview at the beach with Diario Nacional.

This activity was funded by The Arsenault Family Foundation.

Atauro's Manu-Koko Makes the Cover of the Jakarta Globe!

In April 2008, Peace Dividend Trust assisted Antonio Saldanha a wood carver from Atauro in setting a web platform via blogger.com in order to be able to market his carvings. This site for his firm Manu-Koko can be found here.

Showing the power of the internet this site assisted in launching Manu Koko onto the front cover of the Jakarta Globe, rebellious challenger to the Jakarta Post's position of leading English language media in Indonesia. 

See below for the front page and the story in which Manu-Koko's photo is prominently displayed.

You can read all about Manu-Koko on Peace Dividend Trust's Building Markets Business Portal via this link, where you will also find details about 2,500 other businesses and their goods and services in Timor-Leste.

The Beach Hut Business Without a Timor Telecom Signal

Interested in beach huts/bungalows in Timor-Leste? There are actually a few of them. Some are easy to call and some are not so easy to call.

Usually when one thinks of beach bungalows in Timor we think of those at the end of the ferry journey to Atauro and the below three views...

or those at the end of road heading east and you will find Tutuala.

However, there is a set of bungalows which are often overlooked – even by the Peace Dividend Trust.

The Baucau Beach Bungalows.

Situated at the bopttom of the road to the white sand beach at the foot of the baucau Town Plateau it is right under everyone's nose - and as such it gets passed by. However, while it is easy to get to just being 10 min down the hill from Baucau Town it is impossible to telephone. Amazingly enough despite its proximity to the second largest urban area in the country Timor Telecom has yet to find a way to extend its signal down to the beach. While some might think this desireable others do not. Senhor Jose Maria Borges pictured above bemoaned this fact to the blogger a week ago.

"How can I operate a business without phone signal?"

Good question. In any event you can text him on his new number +670 739 7467 and he might get it when he goes up the hill. Or you can contact the PDT micromatchmaking team (M3) in Baucau to faciliate contact see - http://buylocaltimorleste.blogspot.com/2008/05/country-wide.html

If you are interested in other goods and services in Baucau just click here for the Baucau listings on the Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database.

If you are still having trouble finding what you are looking for in Baucau just contact PDT for personalized assistance (timor-leste@peacedividendtrust.org)

Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste. Nakroma Fery.