In Aileu, Plan International hosted an annual debating contest where 19 boys and girls competed to win the regional prize and progress to the final in Dili.

Students and teachers in 15 schools in Timor-Leste are now better prepared to respond to disasters, after participating in the Safe Schools project.

Boys learnt about gender equality while cooking and realised the importance of sharing domestic tasks with female family members.

As part of the 16 Days Campaign, Plan International launched a local advocacy event to amplify the voices of women and girls to influence families and communities to take action on gender-based and domestic violence under the motto “End Violence against Women and Children at Home and at Schools Now!”. 

In a small community centre down a dusty, bumpy road a group of women in Aileu district crowd together and discuss their plans for the future of their community. They say their lives have been spent at home, doing housework and caring for children, but something is about to change – they are running for election.

Plan International celebrated Global Handwashing Day in Lautem by supporting schools to become places where good sanitation is a priority for all students.

All children have a right to attend school and get a quality education. Plan International's Inclusive Education programme is training teachers to ensure children with disabilities can get the best possible start in life.