‘Our plan is to save our lives’: young women leading on disaster preparedness in Timor-Leste

Above: Leonia holds the group’s safe with their savings. Photo: CARE Timor-Leste

Leonia lives in the municipality of Viqueque, located in the remote south-eastern part of Timor-Leste. At just 21 years old, she is demonstrating the value of women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction and preparedness as the group leader of the Haberan Ekonomia (Expanding Economy) Village and Saving Loans Association (VSLA). Along with the group’s 30 members, this young leader is proactively planning ahead for the issues her community may face if a disaster strikes.

Above: Leonia undertaking bookkeeping for the savings group. Photo: CARE in Timor-Leste

Leonia’s remote community is prone to extreme weather events such as heavy rain and wind. In the past, its distance from major towns or cities has meant that external support can be slow to arrive during a disaster.

Through the Disaster READY program, Leonia and her group members have accessed information and training on the risks posed by climate change, preparedness for disasters, and how to manage finances and savings for resilience.

Above: Leonia (in yellow hoodie) and some of her fellow Village and Savings Loans Association members. Photo: CARE Timor-Leste

Prior to her involvement with the project, Leonia grew and sold vegetables at the local market to support her family and pay for her children’s education.

“The income I received was not fixed as it depended on the market price – that means when the market prices drop, we also earn less. We live far from the bank and the requirements to access loans are beyond our financial capabilities,” Leonia said.

Self-managed VLSAs provide the opportunity for community members, particularly in remote areas, to save money in a safe space, improving their resilience. The funds can be used for loans, or as a form of emergency insurance. Leonia leads her group in creating financial plans and managing their income and expenses.

After learning more on climate change through Disaster READY, Leonia now knows when to expect heavy rain and wind in her area. Heavy rains can destroy the vegetables grown by the community, and in a disaster, households can face food insecurity. Families that rely on income from vegetable crops, like Leonia’s, can also lose their livelihoods.

Aware of the hazards and with the chance to prepare, Leonia and her group members can now access loans to purchase food to stock up for a disaster. If heavy wind is on its way, Leonia and her group can also use loans to purchase suitable housing materials to withstand the force of cyclones, or to repair damaged dwellings.

“I see everyone is being positive in our group. The idea that we are not only able to save our lives but also the lives of other members of our community makes us happy. Our group has a plan, our plan is to save our lives,” Leonia said.

Disaster READY is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, and implemented by CARE and its partners.