When Timorese people have conflicts, they turn to a traditional leader in their community for help. Ba Futuru trains these traditional leaders to solve conflicts without violence and respect the rights of women and children. Using real-life examples, Timorese trainers will demonstrate non-violent problem solving techniques in a collaborative setting with traditional leaders, local and district authorities and government officials.
Historically violence has been the normal response to any domestic, community or national conflict. Since independence, the people of East Timor have been striving for a peaceful civil society in their homes, schools, communities and country. However, without a background in peaceful problem solving and achieving win-win solutions, few people in this southeast Asian country know how to achieve a peaceful life.
Ba Futuru works with people at the grass-roots level to identify examples of common problems, and provides new skills for them to develop solutions. These problems and locally generated solutions form the core of training that is delivered by Timorese. One 2016 participant said: "I understood what they were saying, and how to change the way I approach conflict. In the past, I've had trouble understanding training that was delivered by foreigners through a translator."
By training traditional leaders and government staff responsible for conflict resolution, Ba Futuru will transform Timor-Leste's society. The first two years of the project have allowed 400 people to already adopt conflict-free dispute resolution methods. Over time, people across the country will no longer strike out in frustration, but will examine the root of conflicts and find peaceful ways to overcome disagreements.
