12 May 2011

Quad’s top fundraiser returns from Timor Leste

Steve Brand, the top fundraiser from the 2010 Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon, has come home from a trip to see Mercy Corps projects in Timor Leste. Steve was awarded the trip after raising more than £4,300 for Mercy Corps with his team mate Libby Findlay last year.

Steve joined the sponsors Artemis to see how money raised by the 2011 Quadrathon will be spent. They trekked out to a remote mountain community in the district of Manufahi called Grotu where there is no electricity or nearby water supply. Traditional farming methods have been producing poor yields, resulting in food shortages.

Steve and the team received an incredibly warm welcome from members of the community. New farming techniques introduced by Mercy Corps in Grotu have so far increased crop yields six-fold, and farmers are passing on the new techniques and seed varieties to others in the community

Timor Leste is one of the poorest countries in Asia. More than 50% of the population live on less than $1 a day and the country has the third highest percentage of chronically malnourished children in the world (54% of children under five).

Mercy Corps is working with local farmers in two of the most vulnerable districts in Timor-Leste, to help them improve their crop yields, reduce food shortages and generate additional income to help them break the cycle of poverty.

Reflecting on his trip Steve said: Mercy Corp’s has the potential to radically improve the ability of the people of Grotu to avoid food shortages and provide extra that they could sell. This programme isn’t about instant aid, it’s about sustainable changes which have a long term impact. Having seen the programme first hand I am confident that they will help increase the prosperity and wellbeing of the newly independent Timorese.

Since 2005 the Kindrochit Quadrathlon has helped raise a staggering £3.9 million for Mercy Corps’ work to bring hope to 14.5 million people in the world’s poorest countries.

Check out Steve in Timor Leste on youtube or read his blog about the trip.