Project: Hamutuk - War Children of East Timor

Location: East Timor

Type: Key Project

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ABOUT THIS PROJECT

ChildFund New Zealand currently has two projects underway helping children in war-ravaged East Timor.

The country was devastated by the violence surrounding East Timor's vote for independence. Crops and houses were burned down. Many families still live under simple thatched roofs with dirt floors, in burned-out houses or in any other shelter they can find. Medical and educational resources are very scarce. The East Timorese still face the challenge of building their country from scratch.

ChildFund has been providing services to families in this area since 1990. As soon as possible after the conflict ended, ChildFund began delivery of food, medicine and other emergency relief items to the families of East Timor and is participating in a United Nations program to provide shelters for families in project areas. ChildFund is now moving from a relief aid role to helping create long-term sustainable change.

Hamutuk ("Unity" in Tetun, the local language), is a project that assists children and their families living around a township in the western portion of East Timor. The project is situated in a low-lying area that has little rain much of the year. Most of the land is unproductive and neglected, and the water does not come from a clean source.  Before gaining independence, parents made their living as unskilled farmers and cultivated in the traditional way, using simple tools.

ChildFund has moved quickly and appropriately from providing relief and emergency needs to providing developmental programs to children and families.  A project pre-school with a feeding program is operating for the enrolled children under six years old.  In addition a program to address the emotional and mental wellbeing of the children affected war has been implemented. A youth centre has been established, and so have micro enterprise and cattle exchange programmes. A parent's committee elected by the parents themselves manage the projects alongside qualified ChildFund staff.

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