Friends of Suai: It’s the dream of the youth of Suai to have their voices heard all over the world. map
[Click on any photograph and a gallery will pop up through which you can scroll to see all the images enlarged.]
Sergio’s self portrait 2001. Lin 2006. Ergilio 2003.
You can help the young people of Suai achieve their dream. Put culture and creativity at the core of friendship and use suaimediaspace to join the story of friendship between East Timor and Australia.
But first - who are the people of Pt Phillip? Who are the people of Suai? How can we have a friendship without introducing ourselves? Timor Ponies in Pt Phillip These people and many more.
Left to Right: Suai Tais. Lucinda & Lee 2003.
Left to Right: Felix’s roof Suai September 2000. Jacinta weaving Suai Loro 2000.
suaimediaspace is a platform for stories , interviews, news, remembrance, poetry, music, letters, dance, art and graffiti that reveal a hidden conversation that is the soul of the two communities of Pt Phillip and Suai . About Videos
Liz’s Rock St Kilda 2000. Kay & Etorvina FOS Launch March 2000. Stories of Loss & Recovery.
Collected over the past seven years this fictional conversation is in the process of being posted on this site to inspire you to explore possibilities for joining the conversation.
‘Free East Timor’, Melbourne (date unknown). ‘I Love You Military’ Suai Market 2000.
Since 1999 I have followed the story of Friends of Suai with my video camera and I began my own friendships with Timorese people in Australia and Suai . This year I will be posting a series of webisodes covering what is really going on in these friendships. A warts and all expose of the highs and lows, pleasures and pitfalls of grassroots friendship of this kind.
‘Australia Hand Blood Oil’ Suai Market 2006 (Photo: Chris Parkinson).
‘Shame’ Suai Laneway 2000.
You can join in the story by responding to the webisodes or posting your own story through he comments buttons in the categories or emailing me. Become a documentary contributor. Start a digital storytelling group. Post a drawing . Become a translator. Check out Conversation-rocks. Join the YoMaTre Facebook Group or view and share videos through the suaimediaspace YouTube channel.
Left to Right: Video Titles.
Find out what happened when I decided to “get my hands dirty” and get out from behind the camera to “help Suai” by setting up a media unit there and give the first workshop to the newly formed YoMaTre. That sounds good doesn’t it? But how’s it really going? What about electricity? How are they getting their training? Who gets to have all the fun? How could I teach with my limited knowledge of Tetun? How are they going to get access to the internet to respond to you? I’m meeting with them in June and after that this story will begin.
YoMaTre have made their own videos (still to be posted mar 2008). They need an audience and people like you to check them out and get back to them! They need Timorese youth in Australia and elsewhere to translate for them.
I started a friendship with a local artist Sergio da Costa - find out what happened when he asked me to send him a tattoo gun! How was I supposed to react when he sent me a bundle of drawings of nudes?
Left to Right: Sergio 2004. Sergio’s wall painting of Pantacilus 2000
What do you do first? Read _poems & stories_Watch videos_Listen - EnJOY - Introduce YOurSelf and respond through the comment button or email us and we will pass it on.
Read about the history of friendship. Read about residents of Pt Phillip who began their relationships with East Timor as far back as 1941. The people I call the Timor ponies in Pt Phillip.
Individuals or Groups: WriTE _ dRaw- SCan PhOTOs_ video- In other words join in the conversation ..WriTe a letter become a Pixel PAL.