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;
The following materials were bought and distributed to the community:
Impact of the project on the community are:
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