After several years of being outside of the spatial planning
arena, I now come back to it again. Even though planning in this country
(Timor-Leste) is still extremely challenging, through the institution where I
am working right now, with the Team, we would like to try something that we
could from our end. From small and trivial things, take time, but the effects will
deep rooted, and then materialize later.
I was recently given a responsibility to lead the Team to
plan land use surveys in Dili. This is a regular activity that the Ministry of
Planning and Territory (MPT) has put in its portfolio to be done regularly every
year. This year, the MPT tried to pilot the activity. The urban land use
surveys are important because it is necessary for the institution to understand
the baseline situations, and to compile and create an organized data base for
any future’s land use policies.
Our team conducted a three day training to surveyors. The surveyors are students from the National
University of Timor-Leste. We conducted the training from 18 – 20 August 2021. I just started now to work with new people
whom I have never met before. This is a
new beginning. I found out that even though we are still facing managerial, and
office facility challenges, but by working together we can achieve our
objectives.
We did our training well. Everyone contributed by playing their respective roles. The Team Members are young and energetic. They are fresh professionals in planning, architecture, and economics. Something that I found interesting here is young people are excited when it comes to professional works. They are interested to involve when there are clear objectives, directions, and tendency of good team management. All would involve fully, and feel own the activity.
*I hope this gives you an inspiration.
