The principal purpose of the Trust is to make Provision for East Timorese Education and Relief (P.E.T.E.R).
About Us
For historical and geographical reasons (see history in About East Timor) East Timor is one of the four poorest countries in the world, in great need of economic and social development.
Newly independent, the country lacks an adequate infrastructure and few native people have the necessary technical, professional and managerial skills that are needed for the nation building. Health care and educational provision are very limited, and unemployment is high.
Although the East Timorese homeland and its surrounding seas have some valuable natural resources it will be a while before these can be fully exploited to their benefit.
Most analysts think it will take at least a generation for the people of East Timor to be able to provide for themselves in any way adequately. Meanwhile the majority of the people remain ‘dirt poor’.
The Peter Trust prioritises health care, education/training for the young people who comprise the majority of the population, supports income generation projects, and assists families with the development of local agriculture and the rearing of livestock.
The Peter Trust was formally registered with the Charities Commission for England and Wales in March 2000, and given the Number: 1080159.
The present Trustees (2010) are: Simon Myers (Chair); Peter James (Treasurer); Rev Patrick Smythe (Secretary); Eileen Murphy, Rose Pierce, Rev Thomas Marshall, & Richard Mansfield.
The Trustees live in Leeds, Bradford, Rothwell (all in West Yorkshire), Skipton, and High Bentham (both in North Yorkshire)
The Peter Trust has three Agents in full time residence in East Timor who facilitate disbursals to projects according to the decisions of the Trustees. These Agents also help to provide information to the Trustees on the prevailing situation in that country.
They are: Rev Sister Carmen Pangilinan SPC (Sisters of St Paul of Chartres - an international RC Religious Congregation; Rev Francisco Vasconcelho – a Pastor of the Protestant Church in East Timor; David Odling Smee – an Englishman from Yorkshire living long-term in East Timor and engaged in educational and social work there.
The Trustees are kept abreast of developments in East Timor by the dissemination of information accessible through the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) emailing List; through East Timorese expatriates resident in the UK; by email correspondence conducted by the Secretary with the Trust Agents and with Beneficiaries of Trust disbursals; and via Reports presented to the Trustees by the Secretary subsequent to his biennial visits to the territory.
Photos of Trust Agents in East Timor awaited.