Projects

Youth Training & Employment

ACF has a long-standing history of promoting skills development and education of young people so that they may have a brighter future. This includes:

  • Running a youth training centre for over a decade, offering skills training predominantly in English, IT and public management, and work experience placements;
  • Running agriculture and horticulture courses for rural communities;
  • Facilitating construction of public school classrooms for 240 students; and
  • Monitoring and advocating for quality education in Timor-Leste.

Women’s Empowerment

In 2023-24 ACF ran a pilot project supported by the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta to promote gender equality through political participation in Timor-Leste. The project involved capacity building and advocacy for women in Dili and Baucau Municipalities to encourage their participation in the village elections. Public debates by the candidates were broadcast on television and radio. Of the 50 participants, seven were elected as village chiefs, rendering the project a resounding success. The second phase of this project is being continued in 2024-25 in Dili, Liquica, and Ermera.

ACF also ran the Timor-Leste Marathon Project pilot for the Australian Embassy in Dili, to assist vulnerable young women and girls to participate in the Dili Marathon. Forty participants aged 12-18 from disadvantaged backgrounds were coached in long-distance running. The project was successful in building confidence, promoting female participation in a male-dominated sport, and teaching skills in healthy living.

Healthy Children & Communities

Since inception ACF has run projects that promote healthy children and communities through physical exercise, social and emotional wellbeing, healthy food and health services. These include:

  • A new pilot project assisting communities with self-employment to grow nutritious crops;
  • Sports for Peace programs for children in vulnerable neighbourhoods in Dili, Bobonaro, Ermera and Oecusse. For over a decade this program has hbenefited over 1,500 children and young people with physical activity, social and emotional wellbeing and life skills development;
  • Research into youth mental health and unemployment;
  • Community studies into the provision of primary health services in Covalima; and
  • Rehabilitation of a maternity health centre in Lautem.