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Kiwi Soldiers Build Playground For School In Timor
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Gunner Fetu'u Ikahihifo popular with the children of the FarolSchool, giving them rides on the see-saw. Credit - Australian Defence Force.
Currently 685 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.
New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
7 May 2009
KIWI SOLDIERS BUILD PLAYGROUND
FOR SCHOOL IN TIMOR-LESTE
The FarolSchool in Timor-Leste is now the proud owner of a new playground thanks to the ingenuity of some Kiwi soldiers and funding support from the International Stabilisation Force (ISF).
When the possibility of obtaining a small grant from the ISF arose, the Kiwi contingent swung into action and approached the Principal of the FarolSchool to see if any assistance was required. The playground was in a poor state of repair with very few resources, so with $500 and two days to complete the task the Kiwi soldiers turned it around.
The playground was formally opened at the end of April by Dr Tim McIvor, NZ Ambassador to Timor-Leste, and the Principal. The Vice Minister of Education was in attendance, alongside the local Chefe Succo (village chief), teachers and parents.
Commander of the New Zealand Contingent, Wing Commander Rory Paddock said the experience was joyful and yet humbling.
“The entire school roll was present, and the children sang songs to accompany the speeches. All the Kiwi ‘labourers’ involved were there, and sang in reply, before playing games with the children. One of the soldiers said it was the best and most rewarding thing he had done on this deployment.”
New Zealand has contributed to various United Nations and peacekeeping efforts in Timor-Leste since 1999. The New Zealand Defence Force’s commitment to Timor-Leste at present consists of 155 Defence personnel serving with the International Stabilisation Force, as well as two Military Liaison Officers serving with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and five advisors to the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL).
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