ChildFund has conducted a training program in Timor-Leste to teach unemployed young people about carpentry, particularly Maliana sub-district school drop-outs. 
President and chief executive officer (CEO) Anne Lynam Goddard said it was a small project which provided for jobless youths.
“We have 15 youths who have graduated and now we have 15 more in the second class,” Lynam Goddard said at the Hotel Ramelau, Aimutin, Dili.
She said the trainees made good quality furniture such as tables, chairs and wardrobes.
She said ChildFund also provided equipment such as an electric saw so that after the completion of the course, participants can use the saw to build their own houses.
She said that in the past ChildFund had conducted computer and English courses which were not as helpful, so they decided to run the carpentry course again.
Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEPFOPE) general director Jacinto Barros Gusmao said it was through the agency’s partnership with ChildFund they were able to open a center in Maliana.
He said the project was not only based in Maliana but also worked in Covalima-Suai, Same, Ainaro and Manatuto districts.
“ChildFund NGO provides the equipment for the trainees so that when they complete their courses they can make things using the equipment that they have,” Gusmao said.
He said the government program National Development Village Program (PNDS) needed many tradespeople.
Regarding to the training center in Maliana, Gusmao said the government did not provide support as the equipment and training was provided by ChildFund.
He said the government installed a monitoring team to assure the standard of the training so the work done was of a high quality.
