CRS Work in East Timor

All of CRS' activities incorporate the principles of Catholic Social Teacing. CRS is supporting projects in four program areas:

Peace and Reconciliation

The peace and reconciliation program promotes peace, reconciliation, tolerance and inter-religious dialogue in local communities through partner organizations with a special focus on women and youth.

Civil Society

Through the strengthening of local non-profits and community organizations, the Civil Society program promotes the active participation of citizens in addressing structural injustices and making decisions about issues that affect their lives.

Microfinance

Microfinance program provides reliable access to credit and saving services to raise household incomes and the quality of life of poor women and their families.

Agriculture

The agriculture program works to improve livelihoods of resource-poor farming communities in 3 districts of East Timor by providing technical training for farmers groups, introduction of new practices and technologies, and strategies to develop farming businesses and confront the new market realities in East Timor.

Some specific examples of our work include:

The TL Agriculture Program

Since its inception in late 1999, this program has provided seeds, tools and training to 60,000 families, formed eighteen farmers groups with cohesive management structure and improved productivity, created eleven operational and sustainable farming enterprises (half of which are run by women) and rehabilitated six water channels.

The Civil Society Program

Through this program, fourteen local NGOs participated in a two-year capacity building project combining organizational development and small grants. Moreover, four national level NGOs demonstrated their commitment to working with district level partners on organizational development and advocacy activities

Microfinance Program

CRS TL's newest program currently provides 1,200 women in three districts with loans to expand their businesses and increase their household incomes, enabling them to better provide the basic household necessities, such as food, school fees, medical care, etc. To date the lives of 7,200 Timorese have been touched by the program, and 36,000 will benefit by end of the project's third year.