Katie's East Timor experience

By Katie Phillips - The Body Shop - The Glen, Manager

RONALDO, The CUTEST kinder kid EVER

I have been apart of an amazing group of people who have returned from East Timor that participated in the Child Friendly Space – Children on the Edge (COTE) Playscheme 2008.

To live in the community and experience all aspects of East Timor is an experience that I will never forget – nor will I give up on. Not everyone will want to go, or feel like they could go – but there are lots of ways that you can still participate and ensure that this centre runs and provides the village of Viqueque a safe space where children are welcome to learn and play – regardless of income, race and religion.

The journey began in December when my application was successful and that’s when the fundraising began – this enable us to purchase supplies and to fund our expenses of airfares and accommodation. It was a challenging time to raise the funds – but I believe that we all created awareness about this organisation and the amazing work it does.

Tri massagers are the best way The Body Shop staff can contribute, by promoting the values behind this groovy little gadget – not only will The Body Shop Australia donate the whole $9 profit to COTE East Timor, you will also support Teddy Exports another amazing Community Trade group.

You can also jump online to www.childrenontheedge.org and make a direct donation to East Timor.

If you want to check out more of my photos go here.

~ Katie

Our 2008 East Timor Playscheme Volunteers

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"No man stands as tall as when he bends down to help a child." James Baldwin

Five volunteers are standing tall right now - they've been selected from a heap of The Body Shop staff applications to head to the remote, southern village of Viqueque in East Timor (Zoom in on the green marker in the above map).

They will be helping to run a fantastic scheme by Children On The Edge that starts in early March. Children in the community will be able to come to a safe space, to learn, play and just be normal kids - an opportunity we take for granted here in Australia.

A normal childhood is one of the first things stolen by poverty. When all hands are forced to be on deck in order to find enough food to feed the family; human rights to education and for children not to have to work - simply aren't a priority.

Children on the Edge's vision is a world without suffering, where all children are able to grow-up in a loving and stable environment; a world in which all children regardless of their race, nationality or parentage have equal access to their rights and the opportunities that will allow them to fulfill their potential wherever they may be in the world. Here are our volunteers that share that vision - I'm sure we'll hear more from in the coming months:

Kerry Robinson - Team Leader, Retail Support Centre
Amber Taylor - Collins Street, Melbourne Store
Mandy Glassey - Epping Store
Katie Phillips - The Glen Store
Lauren Mair - The Body Shop Children's Centre.

Here are some alarming stats about East Timor - the poorest country in Asia and remember just an hour's flight from Darwin:

• Only 27.3 % of East Timorese live in urban areas (2005) and roads which have been destroyed in war or fallen into disrepair mean it’s extremely difficult for the majority of everyone to access essential services.
• Average life expectancy = 56 years of age (2004) (Australia = 80.5)
• Infant Mortality = 52 for every 1,000 births (Australia = 5 per 1,000 births) (2005)
• Child Mortality (Deaths before the age of 5): 61 children die for every 1,000. (Australia = 6) (2005)
• Births Attended by skilled personnel = 18% (1996-2004) (Australia = 100%)
• Human Development Index = 142nd (Australia = 3rd)
• Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5) = 46% (Australia = not available) (1996-2005)
• Percentage of undernourished population = 9% (Australia = under 2.5%) (2002-2004 average)
• Population with access to improved water = 58% (Australia = 100%) (2004)
• Population with access to improved sanitation = 36% (Australia = 100%) (2004)
• Literacy average = 58.6% (Australia = 99%) (2003).
• Only 41.6 % of the population under 15 years of age is enrolled in education (2004)
• Physicians = 10 per 100,000 people (Australia = 247 per 100,000 people) (1990-2004)
• GNI per capita = US$600 -that’s only about US$2.3 a day! (Australia = US$3,3120) (2005)

Good Luck Viqueque '08 Team! And thanks to everyone who applied for a volunteer position or helped raise money for the centre throughout the year by selling or buying our uber cool Community Trade Tri-Massagers!


Adam Valvasori - Values Manager

2007 Values @ The Body Shop Summary!

I'm sure I've missed bits... but these are some of The Body Shop Australia's achievements for 2007. I'm so stoked we can make such a meaningful difference to social and environmental issues at the local, national and international level!

• $21,658 raised for Staying Alive Foundation and 5,000 brochures distributed through our MTV HIV and AIDS 'Spray For Change' campaign.
• Sold 10,000 shower timers at cost and signed up 6,500 customers for climate change packs as part of our 'Spoil Yourself not the Planet' campaign with ACF
  
• $11,443 raised for UNIFEM through White Ribbon Day sales.
• $80,460 raised for Children on the Edge in East Timor through the sale of tri-massagers.
• Over $90,000 raised for Amnesty International through Christmas card sales.
• Volunteered over 4,500 hours to hundreds of grass-roots charities around Australia through our Community Projects program. That's the equivalent of 1.5 full-time staff members working free for a year!
  

Stop Violence in the Home campaign:

• Launched The Body Shop Australia’s survey of community attitudes, understandings and responses to abuse in relationships 2006 Report.
• Called for Small Grant Applications to distribute $100,000 raised from Daisy Soap sales. A panel of industry experts, TBS Staff and a young DV survivor selected and, disbursed funds to 13 grass-roots organisations working in the domestic violence prevention and care sector.
• Distributed 50,000 “Let’s Air It Out” booklet with stories from DV survivors.
• Collected 4,500 t-shirts with messages written about DV by staff and customers. Were exhibited in-store during the campaign. (plan to present them to the incoming Family and Community Services Minister in 2008).

In addition at our National Retail Support Centre here in sunny Mulgrave, Victoria we:

• Sponsored 15 orangutans from Borneo for four years.
• Sent five big boxes full of Christmas presents to Berry Street.

To all staff and customers involved in helping to make these achievements happen - a massive thank you. Happy New Year everyone, I can't wait to see what we can accomplish next year !!!

Adam Valvasori - Values Manager