Community Forum in Lospalos

Please see below information about a community forum running in Lospalos this July.

You can REGISTER ONLINE and find out more at http://participationispower.tumblr.com/

PARTICIPATION IS POWER FORUM

DATES: 11th – 13th July 2011

LOCATION: CTKDS Office, Motalori, Lospalos Ponta-Leste, Timor-Leste

ORGANISERS: CTKDS, Verupu-puk Community and Café Maubere Discussion Group

AIM AND RATIONALE

Community Development continues to be implemented from the top-down, offering few lasting benefits to rural communities. This forum aims to explore the issues and mechanisms that will enable communities to work collectively towards culturally appropriate, sustainable and equitable development in Lautem and beyond. With a focus on key themes and an informal, action-research based facilitation approach, we will explore, communicate and develop the necessary actions and skills to allow communities to participate in and ultimately control the power processes of local development.

THEMES

The fundamental forum theme is Social Movements and Sustainable Development with complimentary themes of Sustainable Agriculture, Land and Environmental Protection, Culture, Preventative Health and Alternative Economics. Discussion, debate and practical workshops will focus on these themes and others as they arise.

Also: documentary film screenings and open mic sessions in the evenings.

This forum follows two conferences being held in Dili in June/ July.

This is an opportunity for people attending these conferences to come to beautiful Lospalos, Ponta-Leste to participate in this local, grass-roots forum.

PARTICIPATION FEES

Internationals: Waged: $90 Unwaged or Students: $45

Local: Waged: $15 Unwaged or Students: contribution in line with capacity

POTENTIAL ACCOMMODATION IN LOSPALOS (free booking service through the contacts below) Rooms at CTKDS/ Verupu-puk (one room, two beds): $20/ night inc breakfast & dinner. BOOK EARLY!

Other: Home-stays ($5/ night not inc meals), Hotel Roberto Carlos ($40/night not inc meals), Hotel Veteranos ($15/night not inc meals), Esperansa Backpackers ($5/ night not inc meals). All subject to availability.

COMPLIMENTING ACTIVITIES (Extra costs apply)

* Tours around the Lautem area to visit community projects and

historical and cultural sites

* Guerrilla Tour: Forest hikes learning how the Falintil Guerrillas

lived during the occupation (book early)

* Traditional Tais Weaving and Dyeing Workshops

* Café Maubere and Café Buibere discussion groups

COLLABORATORS

We are seeking organisations and individuals interested in and committed to concrete action to further the objectives of this forum (i.e. assistance with mobilisation of resources and collaborative discussion). Should you or your organisation wish to sponsor the forum/ support participation for rural community members; please contact us.

MORE INFO: Maleve: fatacaa@gmail.com / +670 724 9140/ Deb:

debsalvagno@gmail.com / +670 742 7771

REGISTER ONLINE AT http://participationispower.tumblr.com/