Women Protection, Peace and Economic Development

Project Update: Women and Child Protection, Economic Development and the Promotion of Peace and Democracy

Report Period of August – October 2025

 Municipalities: Covalima and Ermera

The Women and Child Protection, Economic Development and the Promotion of Peace and Democracy project continues to make strong progress in both Covalima and Ermera. Our team is providing ongoing one-on-one support to women participants, helping them build confidence and practical skills for personal and economic growth.

We have now entered the second phase of the 18-month implementation period in Ermera. During this stage, two community theater events were held in Railaco and Ermera, reaching around 550 community members. These performances shared important messages about women’s empowerment, financial management, and family cooperation. The team also conducted two training sessions for 50 women focused on Women’s Economic Empowerment, Conflict Resolution, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Savings and Loans management.

Community Theater Highlights

The audiences in Railaco and Ermera responded with great enthusiasm. Many shared that the performances reflected the real challenges women face in running small businesses and managing family responsibilities.

After the community theater, one participant expressed that:

“The messages from this performance truly reflect our daily lives. It helped us understand the importance of financial planning and the need for family support, especially from husbands and children—to succeed in business. It really changed the way we think and act.”

 These performances did more than entertain, they educated and inspired change, showing that women’s empowerment begins with understanding and mutual support at home and in the community.

Training and Empowerment Activities

The two training programs brought together 50 women to learn about budgeting, credit access, conflict resolution, and gender-based violence prevention. Participants expressed strong motivation and commitment throughout the 11-day training, supported by local leaders and government representatives from Suco Lihu and Suco Poetete.

One participant from Railaco also shared:

“I am very happy with this training because I learned how to manage money wisely and plan expenses. Even though I have little formal education, the facilitators made everything easy to understand and made me feel confident to participate. I now realize that every expense needs a plan, and I am motivated to improve my business activities.”

Her story reflects the overall spirit of the program—women gaining confidence, financial skills, and a renewed sense of empowerment to create positive change for themselves and their families.

Women and Child Protection, Economic Development and the Promotion of Peace and Democracy

Empowering Women to Lead: Stories of Progress from Covalima Municipality, Timor-Leste

In Covalima and Ermera municipalities, the “Women Protection, Peace and Economic Development” project continues to bring transformative change to the lives of women through personalized, grassroots support. In recent months, one-on-one coaching sessions in both municipalities—especially in Covalima—have helped beneficiaries make significant progress on their personal and business action plans. These efforts are not just transforming individual lives but also laying the groundwork for broader community empowerment and economic resilience.

A key highlight of this journey was the Covalima Municipality Ideas Exchange and Networking Forum, held on June 26, 2025, under the theme:
“Empowering Women to Access Credit to Start Innovative Businesses.”

Attended by 69 women participants, alongside representatives from government institutions, police, financial organizations, and local authorities, the forum served as a dynamic space to:

• Share innovative business experiences that increase family income
• Strengthen networks among women entrepreneurs
• Empower women to form cooperatives and access business credit
• Boost confidence in women’s decision-making in family economies

Through engaging discussions and testimonials, the forum celebrated the determination and success of women participants—many of whom had faced substantial barriers. One woman’s story particularly captured the spirit of the initiative:

“I feel proud of this forum because I was able to share the experiences I gained after participating in the Ba Futuru program. When I first planned to start a business, I faced multiple setbacks due to family pressures. But through training, one-on-one support, and encouragement from my husband, I gained the confidence to use the resources I had and launched my first action plan—a clothing business. Later, I expanded with a gasoline business, which is now running successfully. I’ve completed the first and second phases of my plan and am eager to take it further because I’ve seen the positive impact it has on my family’s life. This forum strengthened my resolve to access microcredit and continue growing. I’ve learned that strong commitment is the key to achieving our goals.”

This is just one of many powerful testimonies emerging from Covalima—stories of resilience, innovation, and transformation. The forum not only allowed women to reflect on their personal journeys, but also provided them with practical tools, insights from experts, and the motivation to pursue their dreams.

These inspiring moments are made possible through the generous support of partners like GlobalGiving. With your continued support, Ba Futuru is empowering more women to rise as leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers in their communities.

Together, we are building peace, protecting rights, and paving pathways to economic independence.