Community Projects

| Arte Moris Art School | Permaculture Timor |
| Leeuwin Care | Kabala | Bibi Bulak |

(click here to update listings)

Arte Moris Art School

The Arte Moris Cultural Center is an exciting collaboration between Art,Drama, and Music, all set in a beautiful permaculture sculpture garden. It’s easy to find, simply look for the big red dome on your left after you leave Nicolau Lobato Airport before the main Comoro bridge.

Arte Moris (literally translated Living Art”) Free Art School and Gallery is one of East Timor’s main cultural attractions. Arte Moris is home to 15 senior Timorese students and visiting international artist/teachers, together providing daily classes for scores of younger students.

The Gallery is open from 9 till 18.00 Monday through Saturday, or by special appointment. With plenty of sculptures and paintings of the permanent collection as well as new students work, this is a great place to shop for unique and inexpensive gifts. Any travelling artists are invited to facilitate workshops. Arte Moris offers the talented youth of Timor Leste the chance to fully explore their creativity.

The founders, Swiss artist Luca Gansser and Cultural Organizer Gabriela Gansser, have been joined by the artist Yaya Lambert and a group of up and coming students. This growing family lives and works together in an environment that focuses on individual and communal self-esteem, growth and expression. Together they are beginning an opportunity for Timorese and International artists not only to share ideas but also provide education and show how art can be used to sustain a livelihood.

The vision of Arte Moris is one of contemporary Timorese Artists incorporating their culture, experiences and traditions into their artwork through a variety of mediums and ideas. The encouragement, interaction and collaboration between all participants at Arte Moris is a clear example of the positive results that can be achieved in Timor Leste.

For more information and to give support to the art school please Tel: + (670) 723 3507 or Email: artem@ yahoo.com

Permaculture Timor Lorosa'e

P.T.L is a local Non Government Organization (NGO), founded in 1999, which addresses sustainable land use & sustainable development in East Timor.
P.T.L promotes, demonstrates & trains people in ‘Permaculture’.

Permaculture is in essence, the harmonious integration of landscapes &people; which provides food, energy, shelter & other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.

Some of P.T.L.’s goals for East Timor are:

  • Improving food security & health
  • Increasing food & forest crop diversity
  • Reducing erosion & burning
  • Promoting good water management
  • Introducing appropriate new technologies
  • Improving self-reliance

To date, more than 350 people, including government workers, NGO field staff (CARE, Oxfam, World Vision, USC Canada & many others), farmers & villagers have completed 2-week intensive permaculture courses with P.T.L.

Many others have attended specific courses on soil, land & waste management. P.T.L. participated in facilitating workshops that have helped formulate the new agricultural policies of East Timor. P.L.T. has also established several demonstration gardens & nurseries, with ongoing training & support.

P.T.L. is coordinated by Eugenio (Ego) Lemos, who is also a popular local musician & activist. Ego (pronounced Eggo) uses music as a forum to increase public awareness about the importance of land care & environmental protection in East Timor. Look out for his band ‘Cinco D’Oriente’ around Dili’s popular restaurants & clubs.

For more info about P.T.L. contact Ego on: Tel. (+670) 723 6093 or email ego_rockstar@hotmail.com (Ego is often in the field.)

 
Ask Questions, Tell Us About Your Trip to East Timor!
 

Bibi Bulak

Bibi Bulak (”Crazy Goat”), Timor’s premier Dramatic Arts Troupe, also runs the Drama Department of Arte Moris, on the 2nd Floor of the gallery building. With over two years experience of live preformance in East Timor ranging from original music production, radio, television and guerilla theater on the streets . Bibi Bulak is truly something to behold! Come along and visit: if you’re lucky you might catch a rehersehal or even a performance! CDs with locally produced songs and skits are available, the proceeds helping to fund the oongoing activities of the drama school.

+670 723 7196 or yohanz23@yahoo.com

Kabala

Kabala is a Traditional Timorese Dancing Group that was established in 2002. Since then the group has performed at formal ceremonies ranging from the Portuguese Embassy opening, the Australian Army Headquarters to various events at hotels round Dili. The name Kabala comes from the style of wrapping the traditional Timorese weaving (or “tais”) around the waist of the wearer. The group follows traditional forms of dance from the District of Cova Lima. Perhaps the most well known of these is the “Bidu Hena Mutin”. This particular dance is used both in formal ceremonies to welcome visitors and also at the full moon as a way for the youth to interact together.

Kabala is playing its own part in keeping the traditions and heritage of Timor Leste alive. Discover Dili wishes them all the best for the future.

Leeuwin Care

Leeuwin Care was established in December 1999 when East Timorese refugees were transported to Australia after the referendum. The initial priorities of Leeuwin Care was to help the Timorese who were in Austalia and to better the living conditions of the many displaced people after the conflict.
Those initial aims have grown still further with Leeuwin starting a community center within the mountain village of Eraulo, near Gleno. The center has helped rebuild the village school while at the same time developing its own premises; which now provides English, IT courses and a sewing room for handicraft production.

Visitors to Leeuwin Care will be amazed at the beauty, tranquilty and the warm welcome that awaits you at the site. We were lucky enough to visit when the valley’s lake was inhabited by pelicans on their yearly migration across the Island of Timor and onwards towards Malaysia!

Enthusiastic Australian Youth Ambassadors, local businesses and Rotary Clubs (to name but a few of the Center’s doners) have joined the locals to work together to create a community that is open for those who wish to improve their situation, I wish them every success in all that they do - congratualtions on what you’ve achieved so far.

Donations for Leeuwin can be made at Hotel Dili.