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Sisters support young people in troubled Timor

East Timor’s independence in 2002 heralded a new era of optimism for the future, with new leadership, and hopes for peace and prosperity for many young people. However, the reality is that its people have been traumatised by decades of violence and have for too long lived in fear and uncertainty for their future.

In April 2006, a march through the capital Dilli turned violent as soldiers attacked a market run by people from the East and youths turned on one another and the community. More than 120,000 people fled for their lives to the hill country and many have yet to return to Dilli in fear of further violence. An estimated 98,000 people remained and sought refuge within the compounds of churches and convents. UNHCR tents became temporary homes to many families. There are still up to 37,000 displaced people in Dilli today.

In June of this year, Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta won the presidential election by a majority. Questions remain as to whether his new leadership in itself is enough to curb the level of civil unrest that has plagued this new nation.

CWS has been supporting the Dominican Sisters in Dilli well before this crisis and in particular their work with young people in Dilli. Two youth groups, St Camillus and St Dominic, have benefited from CWS funding since 2002 with a fishing boat, a youth training centre, computers, and the development of a training farm in Natabora. However, since the crisis, many of the young people who participated in both these groups disappeared, some moving to villages in the hills. Many have not yet returned to Dilli.

The Sisters continue to support those who have remained. The convent became home to 1200 displaced people for 10 months; two thirds of these were children. The convent community had access to a visiting doctor once a week and all the adults and children were involved in daily chores – collecting firewood, maintaining gardens and feeding animals. The younger children were sent to Natabora, another community in the hill country, to escape further episodes of violence. With CWS funding, the Sisters were able to purchase two motorbikes to help transport some of these children to a nearby school, while others walked the long distance.

Some of the older male teenagers who were involved in the St Dominic youth group engaged themselves in their own education, computer training, tending gardens, selling produce at the local market and making marmalade to sell locally. They also designed and wrote a range of educational resources for a preschool; also supported by the Dominican Sisters.

For these talented young people it remains imperative to hold on to the prospect of furthering their education. Despite living through such uncertain times, they remain highly motivated and politicised. The voting age in Timor Leste is 17 and a large majority do vote. These young people envisage themselves being part of this new nation and using their skills in building a brighter and peaceful future for Timor Leste. The Sister’s gentle way of befriending has also instilled in them this hope for the future: “with optimism, we endeavour to venture onto a brighter dream for a nation of peace, unity and reconciliation.”

CWS staff member Mary Cavanagh recently visited the Sisters and met with both youth groups, and says “they seemed highly motivated to care for their families and to really make a difference for the good of their country”.

CWS continues to support the work of the Dominican Sisters to provide new opportunities for young people. Funds also raised by the year’s Association of Presbyterian Women and Methodist Women’s Fellowship special project will assist this work.

By Ruth Greenaway