Area: 729 sq. km
Population: 44,325
Communities: 31 
Sponsored children: 4,077

Aileu district is in the northwestern part of Timor-Leste, located in the highlands to the south of the capital, Dili. The people, as in the rest of the country, are mostly farmers. The cool mountain temperatures and distinctive wet and dry seasons also make this area good for growing coffee.

Plan has been working in Aileu since 2004, targeting the sub districts of Aileu Vila, Remexio, Lequidoe and Laulara.

Programme highlights

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Plan is working with communities to build sustainable, community-managed water and sanitation services and is raising awareness of the importance of good hygiene practices, including hand washing, sanitary toilet use and environmental cleanliness.

In Aileu, Plan has supported 35 communities to build water supply systems. The communities now have gravity-fed water supply systems that provide water to public tap stands serving 5,937 households and 11,720 people. In 10 communities, water facility management groups have been formed to manage the construction, operation and maintenance of the community water supply and sanitation infrastructure. 

Education

Plan has supported the construction of 20 child-friendly spaces for children to play and learn in. In addition, parents and local volunteers are equipped with knowledge on child development through parent education training. 

A child-to-child project is being implemented in Aileu where primary school children teach younger, pre-school children. “It’s good for the brains of the primary school children and it helps the pre-schoolers prepare for school,” says Florindo Araujo Gonçalves, Plan’s community development facilitator.

Youth empowerment 

Plan Timor-Leste works with young people to provide them with access to a range of work-related life skills, including agriculture and finance management, to support them in generating an income. They also receive project management training in organisational management, business development, leadership, conflict resolution and more.

Watch this video about Plan's work supporting youths with livelihood training in Timor-Leste.