The 24-year Indonesian
occupation of Timor
Leste (East Timor)
and the violence
and destruction
of 1999 resulted
in much social and
economic disruption.
Due to the high
number of orphans,
widows and dislocated
people, households
headed by women
with little economic
and material means
to survive are common.
New economic opportunities
appropriate to women’s
skill and education
levels are essential
to assist in achieving
self-sufficiency.
Craft production
holds out an important
hope for women of
the poorer sections
of society with
limited literacy
and education and
few other work opportunities.
Village handcraft
co-operatives have
been re-established
all over Timor Leste.
In 2002 the first
step in an endeavor
to help foster a
national handcrafts
industry for Timor
Leste was taken
with a national
survey conducted
to provide an overview
of handcraft production
and marketability.
Download
the
Oxfam-CAA Feasibiliy
Study.
The
overall goal of
the endeavour has
been to assist poor
women in Timor Leste
with the development
of a sustainable
income source for
their families and
selves through handcraft
production. Three
clear pathways have
been identified
to pursue:
-
the development
of the handcrafts
industry within
Timor Leste driven
and owned by the
producer groups
-
the exploration
of an international
market for traditional
handcrafts (such
as tais)
and non-traditional
handcraft products
(such as bags
made using tais
fabric);
-
the preservation
and protection
of the cultural
traditions associated
with handcraft
production (in
the areas of traditional
production techniques
and their artistic
and historical
significance).
Oxfam
Community Aid Abroad
Trading, Australia
has
offered to assist
with practical product
development methodologies
through provision
of technical support
and advice on marketing
issues in Australia.
Download
the Final
Consultancy Report
on Assessment of
the Australian Market
for the Timor Leste
Handicraft Industry
In Timor Leste it
is proposed that
the project be administered
and partly resourced
by the Alola
Foundation
with support (funding
and technical assistance)
provided by Oxfam
GB and overseen
by a Steering Committee
comprising a representative
from the Alola Foundation,
Oxfam GB and FKSH
and convened by
the Project Manager.
See
the Virtual Tais
Textile Exhibition
here
FASHION
PARADE
Visit
Bergen, Norway: Textile:
Tradition and Innovation
Workshop here
Economic
Devlopment Contact
Alita
Verdial
Advocacy Program
Manager
Phone: +(670)
3323 855 |
