The Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters (BMETS) calendar for 2016 features pictures of the mainly rural life of East Timor - through the eyes of young people.
Scallywags and traditional ways come through the pictures which were taken by school students who are sharing their stories with students here, including with Winmalee High, through Foto Friendship.
“Our annual calendar is a way for us to share something of East Timor with the many people who have supported projects through the year,” said BMETS member Mary Travers.
The calendar which is available at Megalong and Turning Page Bookshops and the Blue Mountains Food Co-op was produced by BMETS member Wendy Chandler, a professional film-maker, and co-founder of Foto Friendship.
“Many of the children had never held a camera and some had never even seen one,” said Chandler who spends months in East Timor each year. “They were taught by East Timorese film makers, and the pictures are stunning.”
One of the film makers, Bety Reis, started with a BMETS-funded scholarship and is now an award-winning film director.
“Bety is one of many connections we have made with East Timor since 2004,” said Travers, “and none would have been possible without the generosity of people in the Blue Mountains supporting our fundraising ventures.”
