Magazine helping tackle illiteracy in Timor-Leste

by careaustralia

School children in Timor-Leste read their copies of CARE’s educational magazine ‘Lafaek’, which is the only publication in the country that uses the national language Tetun. ©Jane Dempster/CARE

In Timor-Leste, CARE is producing educational magazines and radio broadcasts to help communities with literacy, numeracy and life skills.

CARE has been producing and distributing the iconic Lafaek magazine in Timor-Leste since 2000. Lafaek is the only educational publication in Timor-Leste in the local language, Tetun.

CARE started the publication as a Child Rights magazine after the 1999 Referendum for Independence. From 2004- 2010, Lafaek, meaning Crocodile, tutored every child in school from grades one to nine.

Children from Liquica reading the Lafaek Community Magazine during one of CARE’s Health Program Mother’s Group meetings. ©Sarah Rippin/CARE

The magazine has taken different forms over the years and the Lafaek team are currently distributing Lafaek ba Komunidade (Lafaek Community Magazine) which teaches and informs communities, adults with low literacy skills and children through colourful, innovative and informative articles.

Lafaek’s printed materials and community radio broadcasts target literacy and numeracy, civic education, agriculture, small business management, health and hygiene.

Learn more about CARE’s work in Timor-Leste

Stories from CARE's work in Timor-Leste

A mother, a farmer, a leader

by Amelia Poxon, CARE Australia's Communications Coordinator

First and foremost, Arminda Pererira is a mother. She has six children between the ages of four and 17 and spends the majority of her day caring for her large family.

Three years ago, Arminda also became a farmer. She is a member of a women’s farmer group which is one of many CARE has facilitated to support families in Timor Leste. The groups learn how to grow their own crops, improve their diet, sell surplus crops for a profit and store and share their seeds for the next season. Read more.

Engaging communities in education

 by Amelia Poxon, CARE Australia's Communications Coordinator

In Timor Leste, a country where one third of the population experiences food shortages, it is difficult for families to balance the need for food with the importance of education. While primary school is free, the cost of school books and uniforms is often prohibitively high for families who survive on subsistence farming alone.

However, for Fidelia Soares, a mother of six and participant in CARE’s Young Women Young Nation program, sending her children to school is as important as buying food. Read more.

What do you like to do when you're not working?

by Julia Newton-Howes, CARE Australia's Chief Executive

I recently visited a small village up in the hills in Liquica, about two hours from Dili, with some of CARE Australia’s Board members. CARE has been working there for about four years, supporting people to grow more food and to take opportunities to earn income.

We met a group of women and children at a house, high up on a hill, with spectacular views down to a broad valley. We sat and talked about their lives. It takes an hour to walk to the school or the clinic. There is a market once a week – also an hour away – where they can sell food or coffee. It costs $12 to catch a bus into Dili, a prohibitive amount for many families. Read more.