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My name is Cristina de Deus and I am originally from Atsabe.
Because we do not have any capital, we make our living
from tais production and coffee.
 Mainly
we produce tais based on orders we receive from foreigners
and the average price paid for our tais is $US 20 to
25. If we don't receive advance payment, we are unable
to produce weavings because we don't have funds available
for the purchase of materials. We use the proceeds of
our tais sales to pay for the school fees of our brothers
and sisters. Since I myself do not have the possibility
of attending school, I at least help my siblings to
attend school whilst I focus on preserving our culture
through production of tais. We see it as an important
way of preserving and developing the traditions of our
forebears and of fulfilling our obligations as Timorese
women. It is also an important means of demonstrating
to other nations of the world that the women of East
Timor have the talent to create handicrafts as our unique
contribution to the future of our new country.
February, 2002
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