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Timor-Leste

Advancing children's rights and equality for girls.
Our priorities in Timor-Leste
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Water and Sanitation

Ensuring safe, clean water and sanitation facilities for all communities
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Child Protection

Strengthening local child protection mechanisms, national policies and raising awareness of child protection
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Education

Ensuring all children receive a quality education
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Disaster Risk Management

Helping children, parents, teachers and community members to learn how to prepare, mitigate and prevent disasters in Timor-Leste.
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Youth Economic Empowerment

Enabling young people in Timor-Leste to access employment, and their right to economic security.
See the impact of our work

An app to tackle teen pregnancy in Timor-Leste

For 16-year-old high school student Maria, falling accidentally pregnant before her graduation was a real and dangerous possibility. Approximately one in every four girls in Timor-Leste will have a child before turning 20, and teenagers know little about sexual relationships, reproduction, and contraception.
Children fetching water in Timor-Leste

Washing Away Barriers to Children’s Health

In Timor-Leste having access to clean water can be a big challenge. In rural areas only 61 percent of the population are using improved drinking water sources and a lack of clean water can have severe consequences for people’s health, especially for children. This is why Plan International is working in some of the most remote areas of the country to improve communities' access to clean water sources. 
Cimran from Timor-Leste tries on Juliana's traditional village chief outfit

How female village chiefs are inspiring girls to speak up

Juliana's leadership is inspiring women and girls to make their own decisions, speak up and take control of their futures. 
Girl holding Smartphone with Application Reprodutiva

Strong Girls Today, Powerful Women Tomorrow

On this International Women’s Day Plan International Timor-Leste strengthens girls’ and women’s voices, their right to Sexual and Reproductive Health and their Economic Empowerment. Learn more.
Leonora standing in the greenhouse of her horticulture group in Timor-Leste

Youth Empowerment – How Two Young Women Improve Their Lives

Leonora, 17, and Lenia, 22, are two young women from a rural village in Timor-Leste. What they have in common? They both want to have a good future and they are enthusiastic about taking their lives into their own hands. They have joined Plan International's Youth Empowerment Programme and now they truly thrive. Watch the video!
Girls in Timor-Leste taking a selfie together

7 inspiring things young people from Timor-Leste have achieved in 2017

What an eventful year! In 2017 young people from Timor-Leste have been truly inspiring and they have shown that children and youths can make a difference. Read what they have achieved in this past year.
young people marching against gender based violence

“No” to gender-based Violence

As part of the global campaign ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ a group of youth activists have raised their voices and taken a stand against violence against women and girls which is still highly prevalent in Timor-Leste’s society.
Boy standing at the entrance of his house

A Toilet for Duarte

In Timor-Leste having a Toilet is not self-evident. Especially in the rural areas, one third of the population is still practicing open defecation. So for 7-year-old Duarte it is very special that his family now has their first own toilet. 
woman with baby in her arms

Lack of information fuels teen pregnancies

“I knew a little bit about how a baby is made, but not too much. I had no education about this at school” said Natalia, 19, from Aileu Municipality. Early pregnancy is a major concern in Timor-Leste where almost one quarter of women have a baby by the time they are 20.
five happy girls in pink T-shirts jumping up front of Timor-Leste's flag

#IDG2017: Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders

Five girls took over the roles of village chiefs on International Day of the Girl and showed that girls can be strong and confident leaders.

Teaming-up with communities to build new preschools

In rural areas of Timor-Leste, Plan International teams-up with communities to build new preschools and enable all children to learn, play and sing - and get ready for the next chapter in their lives. 
Girls from Aileu municipality are presenting their recommendations about the draft family planning policy.

Women and girls speak-up against draft family planning policy

"Teenage pregnancy is a big problem in our communities, and this policy will only exacerbate the problem, instead of addressing it," said 18 year-old Odelia.
Our results last year
  • 9,000
    youth empowered with new skills, knowledge, confidence
  • 75 water
    points built or improved
  • 6,000
    children and teachers received Safe Schools training
Publications

Teenage pregnancy and early marriage in Timor-Leste

The research investigates the root causes of pregnancies in adolescence and early marriages, as well as collects information on possible ways to prevent them.

Women's Participation in Suku Level Governance

This report from Plan International, Patria and FADA Association investigates the current level of participation of women in suku (village) level governance in Timor-Leste.

Stay in Touch

Keep up to date with our latest news and projects by following us on:

Twitter: @PlanTimorLeste 

Facebook: @PlaninTimorLeste

Address
Rua de Nú Laran No. 7, Nain Feto PO Box 246
Dili
Timor-Leste
+670 331 2492
Silvia.Ximenes@plan-international.org