Through the construction of capture holes and permanent cisterns, Disaster READY teams are supporting communities in Timor-Leste to strengthened their resilience against water scarcity. The initiative has improved access to water for farming and income generation, enhanced school hygiene (WASH), and supported consistent food supplies for student nutrition.

Agustinho’s community learnt that true resilience is built by working together. “When we build gabions, we protect our farms,” he said. “When we conserve water and plant trees, we protect our future. This project has brought real change. We are no longer afraid of the floods. We have water to drink, trees to protect our soil, and savings to support our families. All we need now is to keep working together.”

Before Disaster READY partners installed a clean water system, Julieta and her community had had enough: “It made us tired and discouraged. We couldn’t continue growing crops during the dry season, and that affected our family’s economy.”

“Now we know how to act. We are not helpless anymore. We are ready.” Learn how Anticipatory Action training in Timor-Leste meant Monica and her family were safe during a recent flooding event.

Before Disaster READY partners built a water tank close to her village, Margarida and others from her community would walk two hours each day to collect water.

“Before the Savings and Loans program started in our village, I had to carry water from the river in buckets to irrigate the crops in my backyard. It was incredibly difficult because I lacked a practical way to access water.” Learn how World Vision in Timor-Leste has used special funding to combat the impacts of El Nino.

With support from the Disaster READY program, Anita can now train others on how to identify risks caused by climate change.

21-year-old Leonia is taking the lead on a savings and loans group that enables her community to prepare for disasters. With the support of Disaster READY, members can now plan ahead for food shocks and damage from storms.

In Timor-Leste, Disaster READY is working with local parishes to ensure communities are becoming more resilient and adaptive to the impacts of climate change.

As a woman with a disability, Angelina has become a vital voice in ensuring her remote community in Timor-Leste is ready to cope with the next disaster.

After Madalena received support through Disaster READY, she realised that she was in a position to help other women in her community.

In Timor-Leste, the lack of clean water in schools puts children at risk. This is further exacerbated for kids living in disaster-prone communities. Disaster READY’s Disaster Management Committees are driving locally-led solutions to help keep these children safe.

Floods in Timor-Leste in April 2021 damaged water infrastructure, leaving communities without nearby access to clean water. Through the AHP response, World Vision supported the construction of new water tanks and piping to restore access.

In Timor-Leste, Disaster READY Partners are supporting small scale farmers like Marilia to improve farming techniques while also mitigating against disaster.

When her village gained improved access to water with support from Disaster READY, Doroteia was able to become a businesswoman, selling her produce at market.

Terejinha worried about the river every wet season, wondering if it might sweep away her modest home and everything in it. Through Disaster READY, Timor-Leste partners devised a solution.

Residents of Halimea village in Timor-Leste say they have had problems with water access for 450 years. But all that has changed after support from the AHP Disaster READY program.

Through the AHP Disaster READY program, Plan International Timor-Leste is supporting training for farmers in terracing, an agricultural technique of shaping sloping land to control erosion.

Through Disaster READY, communities in Bobonaro, Timor-Leste, have been supported to protect their water sources from contamination, improving community health and agriculture.

For villages along the Bebui River in Viqueque, Timor-Leste, the river is an important water source. Now, a community-designed early warning system is saving lives along the river during the dangerous rainy season.