Fifteen young people from six youth centres and the United Youth for Future Development (FUNDEF) have engaged in a two-week comparative study and training program in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
The project was supported by Caritas Australia.
Caritas Australia Country Director Fernando Pires said the training could help Timorese youth develop strategies to persuade donors to contribute to their youth centres and other initiatives.
“I hope the youth centers and FUNDEF can use this opportunity to create strategies and policies for young people who care about the situation of their fellow young people,” he said.
Participants came from youth centers in Viqueque, Ermera, Aileu, Lospalos and Oe-cusse as well as Dili’s FUNDEF.
FUNDEF provides accounting, administration and language training for young people.
The participants will visit youth centres in Jogjakarta.
Viqueque youth council member Clotilde Teresa Soares Guterres thanked Caritas for the opportunity to strengthen her organization.
She said the participants would learn more about their roles in dealing with young people and would learn new ways of doing things from their Indonesians counterparts.
“We will not waste this opportunity but use it to learn things we need to strengthen and develop our organizations to better respond to the needs of young people,” she said.
Aileu representative Victor Nascimento de Araujo said the benefits from the trip would not be felt only by the participants but would flow on to all youth in remote areas.
