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act for peace works in conflict-affected regions to empower communities through training and education projects including:
- community-based literacy work in the Solomon Islands targeting communities that do not have access to any literacy programs. The people of the Solomons Islands have the lowest literacy rate in the Pacific and these programs are the most effective way for women to gain literacy skills. The program develops local resources and aims to enrol 1,000 new students
- providing in Namibia early childhood teacher training, curriculum preparation, and English studies for teachers, students and workers (English is now the trade language). The program also teaches adults to read and write in their native language
- education and literacy teacher-training in the Philippines, as well as health and nutrition education for children and the elderly
- technical and leadership training seminars to workers in regions outside Rangoon, Burma
- skills training in 30 villages in all regions of Egypt. The program works from the ground up as villagers recognise and state their own needs. Trained field workers then work with the village on what they have identified, usually income generating projects, training of health workers, pre and post natal care, literacy, planting trees and clean up campaigns.
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 | act for peace’s partner in Timor Leste, FUSONA (Foundasaun Sosial Naroman), has survived many challenges during the nation’s complicated history. 40% of the population live below the poverty line and unemployment is estimated at over 50%. Those with jobs struggle with the recent rises in living costs, such as rice increasing from 30 cents to $1 per kilo and cooking oil doubling in price. These factors and an unstable political situation make life difficult for the people in Timor Leste.
act for peace aims to help FUSONA reduce poverty in the region. $135 can provide training for a group of 40 farming families in one district. $150 can provide the start-up funds for a kiosk business and $300 can provide sewing machines and materials for a group of five people. act for peace will continue to support the community development work of FUSONA as it empowers the people of Timor-Leste with development plans that are in line with the true needs of communities
Moses’ kiosk in the Sional Internal Displaced People (IDP) camp is a good example of how a small business loan can change the life of a family. Moses’ house and kiosk was burnt down in the conflict of 2006 and he was forced to move into to the IDP camp. Later that year, he made a proposal to FUSONA and received a series of four small loans, which he used to start a new kiosk business. The income he received from the kiosk has allowed him to pay back his loans, continue his studies in teaching at the National University of East Timor, assist his large family and support his younger sister who is studying nursing in Jakarta.
There is also a small sewing group run by Ibu Suzannah, who has seven children and was formerly living in an IDP camp after her husband died in 2006. Her sewing machine was destroyed in the violence and she lost her means to financially support her family. FUSONA assisted with a new sewing machine and two kapok mattresses. Suzannah now leads a small group that make the mattresses on order, which sell for $19 each. She says that she now feels she can ‘start to live again’ and can send her children to school. She also has become an influential member of the community and trains other local women in the technique. |
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