“Thank you for the opportunity given to me. I am a survivor of past conflict violence done by the Indonesian military. As a survivor, I need to be strong to forget that experience of violence so that I can continue living day to day and do something for my family, for my children who were still in school. Every day, I make bread and I sell it to my community. I start very early in the morning until around 9.00 A.M. In the beginning, I did not have any money for my business. I started by pounding some rice to make some bread. I obtained a small amount of money from it, which I then used to buy some flour. I used to only be able to buy 1 to 3 kilograms of flour. Now, I am able to purchase flours in sacks. From the income I got, I continued my business and involved my children and my neighbours to help. I saved some of the profits in two piggy banks (money boxes). I still have one unopened. I have opened the other one and could use the money for my children’s needs and to pay for my husband’s medical treatment. I could also use the money from selling bread to purchase a billiard table so that my children have more activities at home and not wandering around outside. I have been supported by ACbit and I can stay strong until today because of the assistance from ACbit, through project Reforsa Hamutuk who has been given me the opportunities to join their trainings and activities.", said Luciana Martins dos Santos.

The “Reforsa Hamutuk” — Stronger Together” project is a 30-month project financed through a European Union contribution and implemented by Hivos, implemented in seven districts Ainaro, Baucau, Dili, Ermera, Liquica, Manufahi, and Oecusse in collaboration with Fokupers and ACbit, to promote social inclusion and economic development of women survivors and victims of violence in Timor-Leste.

About the Reforsa Hamutuk Project implementing organisations:

Hivos is an international development organisation that seeks new solutions to persistent global issues. Founded in 1968 and inspired by humanist values, Hivos works in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East at a local, regional and global level, together with local civil society organisations in developing countries to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world. Through smart projects in the right places, Hivos opposes discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of resources. For more information, visit: https://sea.hivos.org/

Forum Komunikasaun ba Feto Timor-Leste (Fokupers) is a non-governmental organisation in Dili, Timor-Leste focusing on women’s right. It was established in 1997 to address GBV and human rights violations against women and children, particularly those committed at the time of the Indonesian occupation. Their current works include victim services; non-gender based early childhood education, advocacy, and women empowerment—both in the community and in Timor-Leste as a nation. For more information, visit: https://fokupers.org/

Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit) is a non-governmental organisation that aims to promote the values and principles underpinning the work of the CAVR—human rights, justice and reconciliation. Established in 2010 in Dili, Timor-Leste, ACbit focuses on advocacy for victims’ rights. ACbit provides training, technical assistance, support groups, and trauma healing for women victims of past conflict and their families, and creating networks of past and current victims of GBV to break the chains of impunity. For more information, visit: https://chegabaita.org/