Over the years the Timorese people have endured incomprehensible anguish, including:
The Indonesian occupation of East Timor involved decades-long violent conflicts between separatist groups (especially FRETILIN) and the Indonesian military, which an estimated up to 250,000 people died.
In August 1999, an UN supervised referendum was held, an overwhelming majority of Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the following three weeks, anti-independence militias commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution.
The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forced 300,000 people into Western Timor (Indonesia) as refugees. Most of East Timor’s infrastructure, including homes, schools, irrigation and water supply systems, and nearly all of electrical grid were destroyed.
On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops brought the violence to an end.
On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.
As a result of the substantial destruction of the infrastructure, the sanitation facilities became a huge issue, even as of 2015 a total of 59.4% of population have poor sanitation facilities and 41.8% are below the poverty line. Many families are without clean or running water, which contributes to children having poor hygiene including ears or are exposed to diseases and illnesses that play a part in hearing loss.
In spite of the history, the Timorese continue to grow into kind, caring people and are proud of their independence and are driven to move forward. Since 2002 their focus has been on building the country by addressing people’s health, education, and safety needs to reduce poverty.
Timor-Leste has continuously progressed over the past 16 years and achieved many goals. However, as there are several areas that need assistance, the disabled population have had limited support in regard to medical attention, education, transport and work opportunities, leading to their economic and social exclusion.
According to the July 2010 Housing Census Analytical Report of the 1,066,403 people living in Timor-Leste, 48,243 (4.6%) were counted as having disabilities of which 17,672 were deaf or hearing impaired. It is believed this figure is higher due to barriers they face in accessing public services or from family members concealing the fact that a person has a disability. The hearing impaired are at high risk of verbal and physical abuse and a life of isolation. Deaf women and young girls, who are unable to communicate, are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. They need our external assistance as without it they have a very limited unfulfilling future.
About Hearing First Steps
Our Mission
Identify and assist the hearing-impaired, by removing barriers and unlocking opportunities.
Our Vision
Increase capabilities of the hearing-impaired to allow them to lead a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life, where they can be active in their communities.
Objective
Hearing First Steps’ aim is to minimise the issues associated with lack of services for the hearing impaired and assist in enhancing their lives.
This will be achieved by Hearing First Steps incorporating:
A central hub to focus on taking steps in assisting children and adults with hearing issues
Basic ear examination and hearing testing
Ear cleaning, refer to doctors for infected or damaged ears
A central resource to refer patients to ENT doctor (only 1) after the ears are clean and hearing tested and also a referral point for doctors to have patients tested.
Organising overseas audiologists to visit Timor-Leste each quarter to provide advance testing to the identified hearing impaired, and where appropriate fit with donated hearing aids
Hearing aid maintenance and trouble shooting
Mobile service visiting local medical clinics, schools and communities to identify those with a hearing impairment and raise awareness, ideally travelling in a bus with a sound proof hearing testing room.
Training for Timorese staff.
Hearing First Steps Will Educate:
Hearing impaired – on the assistance and education available, and ways to minimise the impact of the disability and isolation
Teachers – on skills to identify and assist the hearing impaired
Parents – on ear hygiene, what medical attention is needed, education options and how to support their child
Public - raise awareness and remove the stigma of disabilities, hearing aids, and teach basic sign language
Communities – awareness of the facilities and assistance available
Your Help
The hearing-impaired need our assistance to remove barriers so they can lead a safe, healthy and fulfilling life, where they can be active in their communities.
Hearing First Steps need your assistance to raise funds for the infrastructure (small 4 room building), equipment, vehicle for mobile services to schools and going to small communities and for 4 staff. All funds raised are 100% for this project in Timor-Leste, there are no overseas administration fees.
This project of assisting the hearing-impaired living in poverty in an underdeveloped country will change lives!
