TOKYO:  26th May '04 -- Ikuei Overseas Volunteers (students from the Salesian Technical College in Tokyo) continue working in East Timor.  This is a work that is now in its twentieth year, a solid, consistent presence through periods of joy and sorrow.    Often it has focused on the provision of drinking water to villages.  Of late, and of particular interest, has been the contribution to the local fishing industry.

 

With the assistance of a technician from Yamaha Motors last year, thirteen fishermen were taught how to construct fibreglass boats.  These boats have a huge advantage over the traditional village-made canoes in that they are larger, long-lasting, and easy to repair.  The group built fourteen of these new boats, each with Yamaha (of course!) outboard motors, fishing nets and long lines with hooks.  The boats were then handed over not to individuals but to groups of 3-5 men in each of several communities.

 

The aim of this project has been to provide better nutrition for the children.  The land is generally poor in the area chosen, and not well-suited for agriculture.  50% of children, according to UN estimates, are under-nourished.  In contrast, the sea is plentiful with fish.

 

IOV, led by the indefatigable Fr. Julian Sleuyter SDB, is now developing the project further by attempting to set up a local union of fishermen, recognising the need there is for fishermen to work together, in order to sustain the means for transportation and preservation of the daily catch.   IOV considers this to be a project that will take some years; it is a work of education amongst village peoples who have, up till now, not had opportunities of this kind to initiate or to cooperate in a project for the common good.