This map exemplifies the limited infrastructure in Timor Lests.  The lines are the only significant roads.  
 
The Baguia area of which  Leopoldina spoke is inland South East from Baucau, the 2nd largest city of 16,000 people.
 
 
The progress of development in Timor Leste is heart rending.   The presence of the delightful and always smiling Leopoldina ( "Leo") Guterres from the Baguia region of Baucau District of that country added to our recent meeting.  She talked to us on her experiences as a teacher and mother in that region.  
 
She is the Principal of five catholic schools in the sub-district of Baguia.  She was born in the area.  Following all the past trials of the Portuguese colony, the Indonesian annexation, independence struggles and eventual self sovereignty she is committed to building sustainable local communities in which her children can live.
 
She was highly thankful for the support of the "Friends of Baguia" and Rotary in providing financial and materials to facilitate educational and community advances, but clearly that must be continued.  She has 6 of her own children but has an extended family of 18!   These extras come from rural  neighborhoods which are too distant for daily school journeys (many other children indeed do travel up to 2 hours each way each day to school) and so reside with her.
 
Leo told of the limited transport options (one truck offered a 3 to 4 hour trip to the main coastal city of Baucau), basic living conditions for families (daily collected firewood provided the cooking base) and  under resourced schools.   There were 8 schools in the area, many of the feeder/subsidiary ones utilised basic bamboo furniture on earthen floors in buildings in need of repair.   
 
Ever grateful of help from external sources,  Leo explained that high construction and transport costs and a policy of sharing meant that for example a container load of donated materials arriving in say a large city bound for Baguia incurred significant distribution expenses and moreover were thinly spread.    The audience discussed the problem of how to effectively locate a critical mass of support and materials. 
 
It was an interesting insight to Timor Leste and heightened the drive for us to get that next shipment out of DIK to Baguia.  Leo explained that mattresses were especially welcome.