In post-conflict Timor-Leste, rural communities (70% of the population) are trapped in poverty. 74% is bellow 35 but most youth remain poorly educated with limited access to training and employment. Through a unique internship and on-the-job training we will leverage our successes in rural development and economic growth to empower 30 youth of the impoverished island of Atauro to pursue new livelihoods, generating income and becoming leaders of change for hundreds of others in their communities.
Timor-Leste is rebuilding since 2002 from the ashes of colonization and a violent occupation that devastated the country and its people. 80% of those under 35 (74% of the population) is unemployed (almost half with only basic education). Atauro island has outstanding tourism potential but it remains one of the most impoverished areas in the country. Creating livelihoods for the rural youth is urgent for the country's development but also key to guarantee peace and security in this young nation.
The project will kick-off giving 30 Atauro youth unique vocational and soft skills to start a business, develop a livelihood or find a job. They'll live in our development hub getting technical training and experience in our innovative activities - agriculture, livestock production, composting, community development, hospitality, product development, up-cycling and marketing. Then they'll get support to set-up a livelihood/business or find a job and to become youth mentors in their communities.
This internship will offer youth a unique opportunity to build their skills, empowering them to innovate and reshape their futures. In a mostly subsistence-based economy, with very few jobs available, it will train leaders and entrepreneurs that will not only change their future but also revitalize their communities and contribute to a sustainable development of the country. The results and the impact of this project will be monitored and shared for replication in other rural locations.
