History of the NTA

The NTA started out in 1988 as a trust, formed by a group of Australians and Indonesians during a major survey of socio-economic potentials of East Nusa Tenggara province and reinforced at a later international seminar on the same theme held in Kupang. The Nusa Tenggara Trust gradually built up links with the provincial government, local businesses, and other regional organisations to get development projects going in the region.

The Trust and its founders soon became the Nusa Tenggara Association. Members of the NTA decided to focus on West Timor, carrying out village-level development work through community-based participation. The NTA drew on small networks of people committed to working voluntarily on fund-raising, monitoring field activities, liaising with the groups and individuals involved in the projects, and sharing technical expertise.

Twenty years on, the NTA still works on the same basic philosophy. Founding members have a strong sense of achievement in the projects completed and their measurable impact on the day-to-day lives of those living in the communities. Today their work is carried on by the strong membership of professionals, university students, and development experts who all share an interest in the area and its development.

 

Colin Barlow, President:
"After many years of experience, we've been able to mount an effective aid operation, involving close cooperation between us, local NGOs, and local people. We hope to slowly expand this, increasing our impact beyond the current 10,000-odd people, and improving the effectiveness of what we do."