Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is a country in tremendous need of substantial development in a wide variety of sectors. Mercy Corps has chosen to focus on building youth leadership to help foster peaceful change in two districts of Timor-Leste.

Our youth capacity building project, “Youth for All for Peace and Reconciliation,” is funded by USAID and implemented by our local partner Timor Aid.

In this project, we are working with 60 Youth Suco Council Representatives (YSCRs) and are providing them with training in basic concepts of community mobilization, project management, and community facilitation.

Using Mercy Corps’ widely tested community mobilization experience, we're coaching and supporting youth representatives in identifying community needs and developing projects to meet those needs. Youth representatives are also undergoing media training, including broadcasting radio programmes.

The skills developed under this programme will allow youth representatives to begin promoting peace and reconciliation within their communities. They will be able to mobilize youth and other community members in activities that demonstrate an alternative to violent conflict.