Disaster Relief Work by YMCA of Timor Leste

Attention: open in a new window. Print

Last Updated (Wednesday, 21 July 2021 18:51)

Disaster Relief Work by YMCA of Timor Leste

 

Republica Democratica de Timor Leste, or East Timor, has a long history involving struggles for freedom for four hundred and seventy-four years.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to colonize Timor Leste in 1515 and maintained their control until 1975.

Indonesia invaded Timor Leste from 7 December 1975 until 30 August 1999. During September 1999 and until 19 May 2002 under the United Nations Transition in East Timor (UNTAET). 20th of May 2002, the United Nations officially relinquished control of the Republica Democratica de Timor Leste (RDTL) and made it the first new country of the third millennium. Since then people of Timor Leste struggling to rebuild our country despite many challenges, including natural disasters, like the recent one in 2021.

On 4th April 2021, tropical catastrophic cyclone Seroja hit Timor Leste, affecting a thousand households by the disaster. Reportedly 45 people lost their lives, and around 25,709 people lost their houses and their belongings. The village of Terra Santa and YMCA Timor Leste centre were also affected by the floods, including 250 households in the community. The disastrous floods damaged the YMCA’s teaching material for the kinder garden, students' uniforms, tents for rents, chairs, laptops, printers, speakers and sound system, cupboard, notebooks for students, books and manual for Japan Language course, wall, floor etc.

Associaçào Nacional da Joventude Cristan de Timor Leste (ANJOCTIL) or Young Men’s Christian Association of Timor Liste (YMCA -TL) was established on 23 November 2001 to the development of Timor Leste and also supporting the disaster victims around Dili City. The support will encourage them to continue their study.

As a youth organization, YMCA of Timor Leste’s initiatives to support students and kids by providing necessities affected by disaster and humanitarian support to victims of disasters by the Disaster Relief Work in YMCA TL are welcomed by the community. Relief was delivered to kids, youth and people in the community who are affected by Covid 19 and floods disasters in Timor Leste, especially in Dili. The Objectives of the Disaster Relief Work is for humanitarian solidarity support.

YMCA TL sent out an appeal in April 2021 and received an immediate response from our family NCY Taiwan, NCY Japan, NCY Netherlands, WAY and APAY.

YMCA TL mobilized a small number of volunteers with the leader of the community around YMCA TL Center and developed some strategies for the relief work such as;

  1. Inform and Invite leaders from the community to discuss the plan for the delivery of relief materials.
  2. Collect and Prepare data of the victims of floods around Dili
  3. Buy necessary humanitarian support for the community and YMCA Centre

The following materials were bought and distributed to the community:

  • According to the plan, Rice = 150 sacks, Super Noodle = 80 cartons, Cooking oil = 14 cartons and other necessary items.
  • Bought things to repair damages of YMCA Center such as 2 cupboards, 3 semi cupboards, 1 laptop, 5 chairs and other necessary items to paint the playground, doors, make nameplate of YMCA TL and Boa Esperança YMCA Kindergarten in Terra Santa also essential things for the project.
  • The distribution of humanitarian support to the community was held on 29 May 2021. The beneficiaries are 305 households and 1,350 members ( 680 male, 670 female), and kids under 12 years are 470, including 35 present from the total beneficiaries in 3 Villages in sub-district Dom Aleixo Capital Dili.
We have successfully distributed humanitarian support to the victim identified by us in the field with the cooperation of leaders and youth from YMCA Terra Santa Center. The Disaster Relief Work in YMCA of Timor Leste has successfully implemented the project based on the resources we received from APAY.

Impact of the project on the community are:

  • Will have good relation with kids, youth and community around YMCA TL Center
  • Serving people around us
  • Restore the activity of YMCA of TL
  • Introduce YMCA’s mission to the community
  • Have good relation with partners
  • increased cooperation in the field, especially with locals stakeholders

Finally, YMCA Timore Leste thanks all stakeholders and donors for humanitarian support for the disaster victims.

The Disaster Relief Work in YMCA TL was conducted successfully with the support from the World Alliance of YMCA, Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCA, NCY Taiwan, NCY Japan and NCY Netherlands, and the community leaders during the project's implementation the community.

 

Documentation from the Disaster Relief Work in YMCA of Timor Leste

1. General Situation

2. The situation of YMCA Timor Leste

3. Implementation (Distribution Humanitarian support to the community)

Reported by
Antonio Da Silva
NGS, YMCA Timor Leste