A thriving home garden

By Rogerio Mendes Lopes, Plan International in Timor-Leste

Julieta stands proudly in her home garden. IMAGE: Rogerio Mendes Lopes/Plan International in Timor-Leste

Julieta Martins, a resilient mother of four, lives in Suco Liurai, Maubisse Post Administrative, Timor-Leste. All of her children are currently enrolled in primary school, and Julieta dreams of giving them every opportunity for a better future.

While caring for her children and managing household chores, Julieta is also an active member of the village savings and loans group. In addition, she spends much of her time growing vegetables in her home garden a vital activity that has become a source of both nutrition and income for her family.

A Life Once Shaped by Water

For years, Julieta and her community faced severe challenges in growing food. “Before, it was very difficult to grow vegetables or earn income to support our daily needs,” Julieta explains. “Even though we had land, we couldn’t grow anything during the dry season because we didn’t have enough water.”

At times, they used bamboo pipes to try to channel water from the river, but this system was unreliable. Often, Julieta had to walk long distances to fetch water by hand just to keep her crops alive—a tiring and time-consuming task that limited her ability to farm and care for her children.

“It made us tired and discouraged,” she says. “We couldn’t continue growing crops during the dry season, and that affected our family’s economy.”

A New Beginning with Plan International and Maharu

Everything changed last year when Disaster READY partners Plan International and Maharu helped install a clean water canalization system that brought water directly from the jungle to Julieta’s home and garden. No longer reliant on makeshift bamboo pipes, she now has reliable access to water year-round.

In addition, Julieta received training on modern vegetable farming techniques and financial literacy, helping her grow healthier crops and manage her income more effectively.

Julieta and her community. IMAGE: Rogerio Mendes Lopes/Plan International in Timor-Leste

A Garden That Grows More Than Food

With water readily available and improved skills in farming, Julieta now earns a steady income every month from selling vegetables. She carefully manages this income by splitting it in two: Half of the earnings go toward her family’s daily needs, such as food, school supplies, and household needs  the other half is saved in the village savings and loans group, specifically for her children’s future education needs.

“Now, we can grow vegetables anytime we want,” Julieta says proudly. “We’re not just feeding our family we’re also saving for our children’s future.”

Building a Better Future

Julieta’s story is a powerful example of how access to clean water, agricultural support, and financial training can transform lives. With hope, determination, and the right support, Julieta is not only improving her family’s well-being today—she’s also planting the seeds for a brighter tomorrow.