Source: ChildFund New Zealand
As Timor-Leste celebrates the 25th anniversary of the referendum that ultimately won them independence, ChildFund also marked the success of its young leadership programme in the country.
Timor-Leste has been celebrating its hard-won independence over the last few weeks.
“This is one of the youngest and smallest countries in the region, and one of the world’s most remarkable democracies. ChildFund New Zealand is proud to have played a part in the country’s recent journey, ” says CEO Josie Pagani.
Nearly 160 young people have graduated from the Changemakers programme, run by ChildFund Timor-Leste and our local partner Ba Futuru.
The programme covers leadership, and peace and conflict resolution, while also teaching social and emotional skills to young people. About 75 percent of people in Timor-Leste are under thirty-five.
“Timor-Leste is a very young country, with a high proportion of young people. The Changemakers course is not only helping young Timorese deal with the violent past of their country, but also preparing them to be part of their economy, and to develop the country in their own way.”
Timor is still recovering from decades of a brutal occupation by Indonesia and the widespread devastation following its independence referendum.
96% of the Changemakers participants reported feeling more positive about their future, and 96% were able to describe how they have put social and emotional skills into practice. 94% said they have learned strategies for resolving conflict without violence.
Freedom House, an organisation that has monitored freedom in different countries since World War 2, rates Timor-Leste as “free,” the only country that gets such a rating in Southeast Asia.
“There is still extreme poverty and big challenges facing the country. But there is so much potential. As a relatively stable democracy there is every chance that the young people of today will achieve that potential,” says Josie Pagani.
