Thank you to everyone who supported our end-of-financial year appeal to support farmers in Timor Leste. Almost 300 donations were received, and we ended up raising $74,719 for farmers to build unions and food cooperatives.
A farmer picking produce in Loes district.
A big thanks to union organisers and officials at the NSW and ACT Independent Education Union for collectively donating a day’s pay they forwent during the teacher’s strike in May. This money has been used to support APHEDA’s projects in Timor Leste. IEU NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam said in their July newsletter: “The IEU has a long and deep history of supporting APHEDA and its important work.”
APHEDA has proudly supported workers in Timor Leste for more than 20 years. As climate change continues to worsen around the globe, it’s essential that people in Timor Leste have access to a local and sustainable food supply.
Elisabeth Lino de Araujo, APHEDA’s Country Manager in Timor Leste spoke about how this project is helping farmers gain control over their income. “APHEDA is working with Ermera Agricultural Union to help farmers plan crop rotation. Farmers are now planting banana, jackfruit, rambutans, oranges, mandarins, vegetables and trees that protect the soil. This means they can have income every month. Through this project, farmers are learning about sustainable agricultural practices, how to adapt to a changing climate, and how to advocate for themselves.
“It is already making a big difference in people’s lives. For example, in Loes men and women can now earn $500 a week. This is a huge income for farmers.”
Read more about how APHEDA is supporting farmers organisations in Timor Leste.
This program is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).