What better way than to stand on a stage surrounded by 38 young shouting Timorese to celebrate that they are the 100th recipient of a Permafund grant since we started handing them out 15 years ago.
We were attending the first International Permaculture Youth Convergence held in Timor-Leste last October and this group is from the Aileu Resource & Training Centre, (ARTC) not far from the capital Dilli. They received a grant of AU$3,200 from Permafund to allow 8 of their members to attend the event and take knowledge back to their community to implement what they’d learnt.
The Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC) was established as a registered NGO in 2005 with the aim of providing education and training for people of Aileu, Timor-Leste. It serves a vital role, offering adult learning opportunities integrated with development of cultural expression, environmental protection and improved livelihoods, always supporting women’s development and participation. This approach is designed to respond to local needs and conditions, and to build on people’s existing capabilities in a largely subsistence farming community.
Both ARTC and Permafund have a connection to the first Permaculture NGO in Timor Leste, Permatil. Ego Lemos and Lachlan McKenzie, along with others, for 25 years have steered Permatil to play a prominent role in this new nation’s future at a high Government level in the areas of Education, Water Management and Youth Engagement.
President of Timor-Leste Ramos Horta and Permatil legend Ego Lemos
This first international youth gathering was organised by Permatil and Permatil Global. Both Permaculture Australia and Permafund are very proud to have supported this event and continue the long beneficial relationship we share.
Reflecting on our 100th grant recipient takes me back to the start of Permafund 15 years ago at a meeting held in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. “What does good Permaculture Aid and Development look like?” was the question asked. “Let’s find out” was the response, so we formed a volunteer committee and settled on offering a small grant round of amounts up to AU$2000 every year to Permaculture aligned NGOs most in need. Our 100 plus grants have seen funds sent to 19 countries throughout Australasia and the Pacific as well as the Asian and African continents.
There are many opportunities for growth in Permafund including to research the ‘lessons learnt’ from our over 100 applicants to answer the question we first asked ….”What works?” The story of Permatil operating as a small NGO to be now sitting at the table, participating in Timor Leste’s future is a lesson we can all learn from.
What we’ve also learnt is that Bill Mollison’s vision of spreading the concept of permaculture globally through a 72 hour Design Certificate Course has been successful. We’ve made contact with hundreds of NGOs and individuals from their native country that took that PDC and acted locally following their course.
The success of Permafund can be attributed to two important ingredients – a dedicated group of volunteers to carry out the workload and to you, our donors. Without your generous contributions we can’t do the work we do and apply the ethic of FAIR SHARE. The donation figures continue to grow and are a testament to us at Permafund that you value our integrity in the work we do……thank you.
John Champagne
Permafund Chair on behalf of all past and present Permafund members.
Donations to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund can be made here.
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