Alola Foundation

Ligar Como chegar Website Contactar a organização

Alola Foundation Fundasaun Alola was established in 2001 as a local women's organisation dedicated to the empowerment

Fundasaun Alola is a not for profit non-governmental organisation operating in Timor-Leste to improve the lives of women and children. Founded in 2001 by then First Lady, Ms Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the organisation seeks to nurture women leaders and advocate for the rights of women by addressing problems relating to education, economic development, maternal and child health and advocating women's rights. Fundasaun Alola recognises multi-dimensional disadvantage including limited access to education, a lack of sustainable economic opportunity, poor health status (particularly maternal and child health), and a recent history of oppression and trauma, as interrelated problems that limit the capacity of women to assume positions of leadership and access their rights. Fundasaun Alola is concerned with directly addressing the barriers that prevent women in Timor-Leste from enjoying their right to good health, education, socio-economic opportunities and political participation for the benefit of all people in Timor-Leste, as reflected in Alola's motto Feto Forte, Nasaun Forte (Strong Women, Strong Nation). Alola's five key program areas include Operations, which oversees all organisational logistics and resource management, and the following:

The Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) was established in 2003 to respond to the health needs of women and children in Timor-Leste. Originally tasked with promoting exclusive breastfeeding and good breastfeeding practices under the directive of the National Breastfeeding Association and The Ministry of Health, the MCH's activities have expanded immensely since then. The maternal and child mortality rates of Timor-Leste are one of the highest in the region of South-East Asia. The department continues to successfully implement programs that help improve safe motherhood and early child health. The strengths of the MCH department lie in its national staff, who design and deliver culturally appropriate programs that respond to community needs, with support from various national and international partners. The Education and Literacy Program pursues an objective to capacity build to expand opportunities for women through increasing access and quality of education for women and children in Timor-Leste. Since its establishment in 2001, the program has worked to build relationships with the Ministry of Education, as well as national and international organisations concerned with improving education systems. Alola's Education and Literacy staff model best practice teaching and learning methodologies, deliver teacher training, and develop resources to promote early numeracy and literacy. In 2012, the Education and Literacy Program will xpand our their resource development and training schedules, while piloting new projects that support the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education for Timor Leste National Policy. The Advocacy Program undertakes public education, research and promotion of women's rights with a view to promoting legal frameworks that reflect women's rights, and providing women with practical skills that allow them to pursue positions of leadership. The Advocacy Program engages in campaigns for women's rights, provides humanitarian assistance through associated networks, and provides opportunities for young women's development through its Women's Resource Centre. Alola continues to play an important role in the development and promotion of laws and policies that protect women in Timor-Leste, including the Law Against Domestic Violence, promulgated in 2010, and the Referral Mechanism for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, completed in partnership with IOM in 2010. The Economic Development Program provides opportunities for women across Timor-Leste to participate in economic life through small business, cooperative producer groups and finance education. The Program aims to reduce poverty and promote cultural heritage by working with women to improve their skills producing quality textiles and other handcrafts, of increased value to both national and international markets for their use of local cottons and natural dye plants. Alola's Economic Development Program is comprised of highly skilled national staff who advise women's groups on quality control, safety, business skills, marketing and fair trade practice. The Program partners with local and national NGO's and bilateral partners with a view to sustainable income generation for women and their families.

15/10/2026

👩‍🌾✨ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐁𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋! 🌾💚 (English below)

Iha loron 15 Outubru ne'e, ita foti liman no fo omenajen ba feto rural sira iha Timor-Leste no mundu tomak! Sira iha papel xave ba agrikultura, seguransa hahán, no futuru ba ita-nia komunidade sira. 🌽🧺

Feto nu’udar metáde populasaun Timor-Leste nian maioria hela iha área rurál no dedika sira nia moris serbisu iha setor agrikultura, produz ai-han ba komunidade no iha tempo hanesan halao sira nia kna’ar nu’udar inan hodi tau matan ba familia. Feto sira mos hasoru limitasaun oin-oin hanesan asesu ba bee-mos, estrada, eletrisidade, asesu ba fasilidade saude, asesu informasaun kona-ba saude no selu-seluk tan.

Nu’udar loron mundiál ida, selebrasaun Loron ba Feto Rural ne'ebe kada tinan komemora iha loron 15 fulan Outubru sai hanesan rekonesementu mundiál ba papel prinsipál no kontribuisaun feto rurál hodi haforsa setor agrikultura no prosesu dezenvolvimentu iha área rurál. Liu husi Rezolusaun No. 62/136 ne’ebe hasae Assembleia Jeral Organizasaun Nasõens Unidas iha fulan Dezembru 2007, nasaun hotu fo onhra no valoriza kontribuisaun no sakrifisiu maka’as ne’ebe inan feton sira halo atu asegura alimentar komunidade nian.

Liu husi selebrasaun ida ne'e, Fundasaun Alola hakarak reafirma fila-fali nia komitmentu atu hasa’e foinsa’e no komunidade nia konsensia kona-ba importansia papel feto nian nia iha sosiedade hodi dezemvolve produtu lokal ne’ebe kualidade no nutritivo hodi garante nia sustenbilidade ba ema hotu, iha seitor Ekonomia, agrikultura no seitor hotu no prevene Violensia Bazeia ba Jeneru iha uma laran no sosiedade.

Sira-nia badinas no matenek mak sai pilar ba ekonomia no sustentabilidade suku nian. Mai ita hotu apoio no apoiu empoderamentu feto rural sira hodi hetan direitu no oportunidade ne’ebé hanesan! ✊💜
--------------------------

👩‍🌾✨ 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍! 🌾💚
On this 15th of October, we raise our hands in tribute to rural women across Timor-Leste and around the world! They play a key role in agriculture, food security, and the future of our communities. 🌽🧺

Women account for half of Timor-Leste’s population, the majority of whom reside in rural areas and dedicate their lives to working in the agricultural sector—producing food for the community while simultaneously carrying out their roles as mothers caring for their families. Rural women also face various challenges and limitations, such as restricted access to clean water, roads, electricity, healthcare facilities, health information, and many other basic services.

As a global day of commemoration, the celebration of the International Day of Rural Women on October 15 serves as a worldwide recognition of the vital role and contribution of rural women in strengthening agriculture and the development process in rural areas. Through Resolution No. 62/136, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2007, nations across the globe honor and value the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices made by women to secure community food safety and sustenance.

Through this celebration, Fundasaun Alola reaffirms its commitment to raising awareness among youth and the wider public regarding the vital importance of women's roles in society—particularly in developing quality, nutritious local products to ensure sustainability for all across economic, agricultural, and other sectors, while actively working to prevent Gender-Based Violence in the home and community.

Their dedication and wisdom are the foundational pillars of our village economies and sustainability. Let us all stand together to support the empowerment of rural women so they may enjoy equal rights and opportunities! ✊💜

Boot

🧼 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐊, 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐉𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐀 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐒-𝐃𝐈'𝐀𝐊. 🎉✨ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧 (English belo...
15/10/2026

🧼 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐊, 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐉𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐀 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐒-𝐃𝐈'𝐀𝐊. 🎉✨ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧 (English below) 🛡️✨

15 Outubru la'ós de'it mundu komemora hanesan loron Internasional ba Feto Rural maibé komemora hanesan Loron Mundial ba Fase Liman (LMFL) nian. Hahú husi tinan 2008, mundu hotu-hotu komemora LMFL nu'udar tempo advokasia globál ida-ne'ebé dedika ba hasa'e konsiénsia no komprensaun kona-ba importánsia fase liman ho sabaun nu'udar dalan ida-ne'ebé efetivu no asesivel atu prevene infesaun respiratóriu no diaréia. Fase liman beibeik liuliu iha tempu importante sira-ne'e ajuda família sira atu nafatin saudavel.

Fundasaun Alola nu’udar organizasaun sosiedade sivíl Timor-leste nian mós kontinua promove inisiativa ida fase liman ho sabaun durante Alola hala'o nia programa hanesan prátika ne'ebé simples no efetivu liu atu proteje alvu programa sira husi hasoru infesaun no moras. Prátika fase liman ho sabaun durante atividade nu’udar responsabilidade Alola nian atu proteje saúde publika no promove moris-di'ak.
---------

🧼 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘, 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄'𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐲 🛡️✨

October 15 is not only International Rural Women's Day but also World Handwashing Day. Since 2008, the entire world began celebrating World Handwashing Day as a global advocacy period dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and accessible way to prevent respiratory infections and diarrhea. Regular hand washing, especially during these important times, helps families stay healthy.

The Alola Foundation as a civil society organization in Timor-Leste also continues to promote the hand washing with soap initiative during the Alola program. Washing hands with soap is a simple and more effective practice to protect program targets from infection and disease. The practice of washing hands with soap during activities is Alola's responsibility to protect public health and better lives.

Alola Australia United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste Palácio das Cinzas

14/10/2026

Dengan Global Fund for Women – Saya baru saja diakui sebagai salah satu penggemar beratnya! 🎉

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐔 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐇’𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍'𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎(Alola Media / Atauro) — T...
14/10/2026

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐔 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐇’𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍'𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎

(Alola Media / Atauro) — The journey across the deep waters of the Ombai Strait that morning was no ordinary voyage. Over the blue waves separating Dili City from Ataúro Island, a high-value humanitarian mission was underway. In commemoration of Pink October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), the HALIKU Team – Fundasaun Alola joined forces with SABEH (Saúde ba Ema Hotu) to push past geographical boundaries in the fight to safeguard women's health in remote areas.

Using the motor vessel Berlin Nakroma, the team departed from the Port of Dili at 08:00 AM. A three-hour sea voyage through the waters north of Dili brought the team to Beloi Port just as the sun reached its zenith. After resting briefly to enjoy a local meal of grilled fish, ketupat, and fresh young coconut on the Beloi coast, a short coordination meeting was held at the SABEH basecamp with the young doctors before venturing into the field.

𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝑻𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒓𝒚-𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒖𝒔𝒕
Although the Beloi area has experienced development—visible in its paved roads and the hum of passing vehicles carrying tourists—the journey into Ataúro's interior presents a starkly different reality. To reach Aldeia Adara on the west coast, the team had to navigate a 10-kilometer rocky, uphill, and dusty rural track across the island's mountain ridge.

Under the scorching sun and the hot winds of El Niño, a 45-minute drive in 4WD vehicles offered views of yellowing savanna along the hills until passing through Arlo Village. This new overland route, opened in mid-2025, marks a major turning point, replacing the old trail that required residents to trek through steep hills for 3 to 4 hours on foot.

However, the route to the farthest destination—Aldeia Maquer, the primary target location—demanded extra effort. Land vehicles could only carry the team as far as the shores of Adara. The journey had to continue aboard local outboard motorboats across the Ombai Strait for 45 minutes, passing majestic ancient coral cliffs in the Atekru and Fatuk Gong areas. Amid the pounding western waves crashing into coastal sea caves, the roaring sounds and clinking coral sand accompanied the hum of the boat engine carrying SABEH medical personnel and the Alola-HALIKU team.

𝑴𝒂𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒓: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕, 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔
Arriving at Aldeia Maquer—a relatively quiet yet isolated eastern coastal settlement—the team's exhaustion evaporated. The Alola-HALIKU and SABEH team received a warm welcome from helmet Chief, Mr. Sensiel de Araujo, Pastor Thomas de Araujo from Assembleia de Deus Church, and dozens of local residents gathered at the community house.

On Monday (10/12), more than 50 residents from various backgrounds attended an awareness session on women's cancer prevention, integrated with free mobile healthcare services provided by the SABEH medical team. Conducting this activity in Aldeia Maquer was driven by deep concern over past cases of women dying due to delayed cancer treatment in the area.

In his opening remarks, Chefe Aldeia Maquer, Sensiel de Araujo, expressed deep gratitude for the direct delivery of health services to their village:

"In Maquer, accessing healthcare facilities has always been very difficult for us. Since the implementation of the SISCA program and mobile clinics, we are deeply grateful that they can visit us periodically. Our heartfelt thanks go to the team for stepping forward and reaching this remote place for our community."

Moral and spiritual support was also voiced by local religious leader, Pastor Thomas de Araujo. In his message, he emphasized the importance of community openness regarding personal health:

"When it comes to illness, we must not hide it; it must be communicated. We are grateful that the doctors traveled all the way here. Do not be ashamed, and do not be afraid! Just as the church brings healing to the soul, these doctors are here to provide healing for our bodies—they are God's helping hands. Do not hide your pain; we must seek treatment so that we can enjoy the beauty and goodness of this land of Timor."

HALIKU Program Coordinator of Fundasaun Alola, Mrs. Pascoela Barreto, reinforced early detection as the key to saving women's lives from the threat of breast and cervical cancer:

"If you feel anything abnormal in your breasts or body, go to a health facility immediately. Do not delay, and do not go to traditional healers. If it is too late, treatment becomes extremely difficult. Early detection is the path to saving lives."

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝑨𝒏𝒂: 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒎𝒂
After completing the mission in Maquer, the series of health education and medical services continued to the next locations: Aldeia Uaro Ana (Biqueli Village) and the Bequeli Village Community Center.

In Aldeia Uaro Ana, the event was opened by a village representative who is also a local GSI member, Mrs. Hurla Gusmao, and was attended mostly by women.

Meanwhile, high participation from residents and students reflected the enthusiasm during the community education session held today (10/14) at the Bequeli Community Center. More than 70 people actively participated and listened to presentations by two doctors on breast and cervical cancer. The Village Chief of Biqueli, Mr. Daniel Martins, highlighted in his opening speech the reality his village faced in recent years regarding cancer:

"In the past, when we got sick with this disease, we always relied on traditional medicine and refused to visit health posts or health centers. We wouldn't tell our mothers or our husbands; we just hid it. In reality, this disease poses a grave danger to ourselves," explained the Biqueli official.

Mr. Daniel Martins also urged mothers, students, and residents in attendance to make full use of the opportunity:

"This activity is a great opportunity for us, for our youth, and for the mothers here. We must take advantage of it because the support and resources provided by Fundasaun Alola to assist families during treatment are excellent," he added.

Great hope was also expressed by the representative of the Ataúro Municipality Emergency Medical Services (SEMM), Mr. Lucas Morais, at the conclusion of the event:

"Going forward, after receiving this information, I hope we work hard for our children and families. If you spot any signs or symptoms in your body, do not hide them—seek a solution immediately. The most important thing is to open up and share what you feel with our health personnel," expressed Mr. Lucas Morais.

𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝑨𝑩𝑬𝑯 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
Education on breast cancer, cervical cancer, and palliative care throughout these events concluded with general health services for all community members.

The medical outreach in this remote area of Ataúro Island was led directly by dr. Reynil Tho Da Costa Tilman (SABEH medical team), fully supported by a dedicated team of young volunteer doctors:
• dr. Orlando Mendonça Salsinha (dr. Kiko)
• dr. Jefriana da Costa Silva (dr. Jefry)
• dr. Reginilda da Silva Faria Pinto

Through this journey across land and sea, Fundasaun Alola and SABEH brought not only medicines and medical supplies, but also lit the torch of awareness and new hope for women in Timor-Leste's outermost island.

Alola Australia United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste

🌍 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘-𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐋𝐀 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🤝DILI (TIMOR-LESTE) – As part o...
07/10/2026

🌍 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘-𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐋𝐀 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🤝

DILI (TIMOR-LESTE) – As part of their Insight Tour 2026 learning exchange, a delegation from the Australian International Development Network (AIDN) paid an official visit to the main headquarters of Fundasaun Alola at C*D 10, Timor Plaza, Dili.

The visit on September 30, 2026, was warmly received by Fundasaun Alola’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Maria Guterres, alongside key program managers. The meeting provided a strategic opportunity to strengthen philanthropic networks, advance international development advocacy, and foster the exchange of ideas on locally-led community empowerment.

𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔
During a roundtable discussion at the C*D 10 conference room, Ms. Maria Guterres presented the long-standing trajectory of Fundasaun Alola—a non-governmental organization founded in 2001 by Timor-Leste’s former First Lady, Dr. Kirsty Sword Gusmão.
Rooted in a commitment to safeguarding women’s rights following the 1999 referendum, Fundasaun Alola has grown into a leading national institution dedicated to elevating the status of Timorese women through maternal-child health, children’s education, economic independence, and high-level national advocacy.

In an engaging atmosphere, the AIDN Insight Tour 2026 delegation explored critical topics, including maternal and child health (MCH) and nutrition—a cornerstone of Alola’s community programs.

"This visit is far more than a courtesy meeting; it serves as an invaluable platform for mutual learning. We deeply appreciate the AIDN delegation's enthusiasm to understand both the complex challenges and promising opportunities within Timor-Leste's development sector, particularly in health, nutrition, and education," said Ms. Maria Guterres, CEO of Fundasaun Alola.

𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒕 ALOLA ESPERANSA
Beyond meetings at the main office, the AIDN delegation toured the Alola Esperansa Production Center in Taibesi, Dili. Here, participants observed firsthand how Fundasaun Alola empowers women weaver collectives from various municipalities by transforming handwoven traditional Tais textiles into high-value commercial handicrafts, fashion, and accessories.

This social enterprise model preserves Timor-Leste's rich cultural heritage while providing sustainable livelihoods and financial stability for dozens of weaver families.

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑨𝑰𝑫𝑵 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓 & 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕
The visit to Fundasaun Alola forms a key milestone in the AIDN Insight Tour 2026 agenda (September 27 – October 4, 2026), facilitated by Intrepid Travel. Led by AIDN Executive Director Julie Rosenberg, Co-Founder Linda Fox, and Good Business Foundation representatives Peter McMullin AM and Stuart Thomson, the initiative connects Australian funders and philanthropic leaders directly with local civil society organizations in Timor-Leste.

Additionally, Fundasaun Alola’s mission—guided by its motto "Strong Women, Strong Nation"—was recently featured on Spotify’s Philanthropod Podcast. Hosted by Anubha Rawat, the episode features founder Dr. Kirsty Sword Gusmão sharing her perspective on Alola’s 25-year contribution to Timor-Leste’s nation-building and the crucial role of women in shaping a resilient country. (Click this link to hear the podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jPKLZxnhaGRYEXdCcJ5X1)

Through direct field visits and ongoing collaboration, AIDN and Fundasaun Alola continue to demonstrate that investing in women’s safety, education, health, and leadership is the cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable national progress.

As a mature institution with proven field implementation, Fundasaun Alola remains open to all partners wishing to collaborate, exchange experiences, and share the heartfelt stories of humanitarian workers serving communities across Timor-Leste.
Investments in women’s health, education, and economic leadership create lasting change for whole communities. We are deeply grateful to AIDN, the Good Business Foundation, and Intrepid Travel for visiting us and supporting locally-led development!

📢 Together, we continue to prove that Strong Women make a Strong Nation! 💪💜

With Kirsty Sword Gusmao – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
07/10/2026

With Kirsty Sword Gusmao – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

🌍 𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐍: 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂—𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐂 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐓𝐇. 🌾Did you know that co...
07/10/2026

🌍 𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐍: 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂—𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐂 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐓𝐇. 🌾

Did you know that cotton sustains the livelihoods of millions of families across the globe? Cotton is far more than a natural fiber—it is the lifeblood for millions worldwide, including generations of women weavers who sustain their families and preserve cultural identity through every row they weave. Cotton is a powerful engine for community empowerment and economic growth.

When grown responsibly, cotton is a force for sustainable development:
🌱 Sustainable Land & Water Use – Modern farming practices are helping conserve vital natural resources.
🌱 Nurturing the Land: Responsible land and water management ensures a lasting, eco-friendly supply of natural cotton yarn.
💜 Empowering Women & Local Economies: For traditional weavers, handloom weaving provides essential income to educate children, improve family nutrition, and lift households out of extreme poverty.
💙 Reducing Poverty – Providing fair income and job stability in developing regions.
🎨 Preserving Heritage & Advancing : Every handwoven textile created from natural cotton honors living culture while driving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production).
🧵 From Every Thread of Cotton to the Hands of Master Weavers 🌿✨

When we champion sustainable cotton, we honor the artisan weavers and protect the future of their communities. Let’s support and empower the communities behind it! ✨

Happy World Cotton Day! 🌾✨

United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste UNESCO Global Fund for Women Women and Girls Empowered - WAGE Alola Australia Alola Esperanca Tais Timor Women Entrepreneur

01/10/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓, 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐋𝐀 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐆𝐀𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐑-𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄.

(AlolaMedia/Manufahi-Dili) For over twenty-five years, the Alola Foundation, through its Education Program team, has been committed to enhancing the quality of preschool and primary school teachers, equipping them with better skills to teach basic literacy to students. In its implementation, the Alola team provides training using learning materials crafted from items easily found around schools and communities—such as cardboard, bottle caps, stones, and seeds—which are readily available in households and the surrounding environment. Furthermore, Alola’s education team has helped improve students' reading skills in remote and rural areas by providing hundreds of storybook titles and interactive games during every visit by the Alola Mobile Library unit.

Global consensus holds that education plays a vital role in a nation's development. For Timor-Leste, this sector is crucial to realizing the vision of the National Strategic Development Plan, which stipulates that by 2030, all children in remote areas across Timor-Leste will have equal access to preschool education near their homes.

As an organization championing women's advancement under the motto "Feto Forte, Nasaun Forte" (Strong Women, Strong Nation), the Alola Foundation prioritizes the education sector as a key step toward empowering women's participation and leadership. To improve the quality of education for the community, the Alola Foundation, through its Education Program, has facilitated various reading activities for students and children—both in schools and within the community—through the BIBLIOTEKA HALE’U (Mobile Library) project.

This short video showcases several activities of the Alola mobile library carried out under the HALIMAR Project between August and September of this year. During these two months, the Alola team visited a number of schools, including EBF 1 & 2 Wedauberec, EBF 1 & 2 Wesusu, and EBF 1 & 2 Weberec (Manufahi), as well as EBF 1 & 2 Aidac-Bihare and EBF 1 & 2 Ailele-Hun (Dili). Let’s take a look!

United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste Ministério da Educação Kirsty Sword Gusmao Alola Australia

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄, 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑: 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍The month of Octob...
01/10/2026

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄, 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑: 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

The month of October is a special month dedicated globally to Breast Cancer Awareness activities. As a shared concern for all nations, breast cancer—along with other types of cancer—threatens the lives of communities regardless of gender, age, education level, or social status. The celebration of 'Pink October' is not merely an observance to raise public awareness about breast cancer, but also a time to unite our commitment to supporting our brothers and sisters suffering from it.

As a universal symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the color pink represents universal love, the spirit of friendship, harmony, and heartfelt peace. First used in the United States of America, this symbol aims to draw everyone's attention to the vital importance of early detection of breast cancer.

In Timor-Leste, three inspiring female figures—Ms. Kirsty Sword Gusmão, Ms. Isabel Fernandes De Lima, and Sister Lita Gomes, FMA—became torchbearers in the fight against women's cancers. Through more than 12 years of dedication, thousands of women have gained access to clear information, education, and the practice of early detection to help save their lives from breast cancer. As cancer survivors themselves, each of them navigated a painful journey—from the shock and exhaustion of diagnosis and treatment to full recovery—and these experiences forged their strength and determination.

Founded with the primary objective of educating the public on women's cancers, HALIKU stands as the sole organization in Timor-Leste fully dedicated not only to spreading awareness about cancer symptoms, but also to educating communities on early prevention, providing counseling, material aid, and spiritual and moral support for women affected by cancer.

"If we want to save our lives, save our future, and save our families, we must go to the nearest healthcare facility. We cannot rely solely on traditional medicine, as those treatments are meant to be complementary," explained Ms. Kirsty Sword during HALIKU's inaugural discussion years ago.

As a non-communicable disease, global data shows that cancer claims over 8 million lives each year, with approximately 4 million of those deaths occurring among individuals aged 30 to 69. The Alola-HALIKU team and the National Breast Cancer Commission of Timor-Leste (KNKSTL), in collaboration with other institutions, continue their community outreach by sharing information and making medical referrals to HNGV (Guido Valadares National Hospital).

By the end of August 2026, HALIKU had educated and empowered a total of 44,743 beneficiaries. Beyond education, HALIKU has also identified and referred 352 patients to HNGV.
Alola Foundation, a civil society organization with a 25-year presence in Timor-Leste, takes great pride in HALIKU's achievements. Furthermore, Alola is deeply honored to fulfill its commitment to upholding dignity, equity, and solidarity in caring for women with cancer through the Women's Cancer Support Center.

"The Women's Cancer Support Center is an initiative reflecting our collective commitment to dignity, equity, and solidarity in providing care for women in Timor-Leste, contributing to the principles of health for all and leaving no one behind," stated Ms. Maria Guterres, Executive Director of Alola Foundation.

Happy Pink October! we honor and celebrate our brave cancer warriors and survivors. Your strength and resilience continue to be a beacon of light and hope for us all. Together, let us bring love and hope to save lives through early detection.

About HALIKU:

HALIKU (Hau Hili Atu Kura – "I Choose to Heal") is a women's cancer education and support program in Timor-Leste founded in February 2014 by Kirsty Sword Gusmão, founder of Alola Foundation and a breast cancer survivor. On March 7, 2014, HALIKU was officially launched by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sérgio Lobo, at the Dili Convention Center (CCD). Ms. Kirsty Sword Gusmão, together with fellow survivors Ms. Isabel Fernandes de Lima and Sister Angelita Gomes, inspired the establishment of this group.

In 2016, HALIKU was integrated into Alola Foundation as a sub-program under Maternal and Child Health (MCH). HALIKU's mission is to enhance women's knowledge of prevention, early detection, and treatment of women's cancers, as well as facilitate hospital referrals.

HALIKU is a member of the National Breast Cancer Committee of Timor-Leste based at the National Hospital, and became a member of the South East Asia Breast Cancer Network and the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC) in 2018.

Alola Australia Palácio das Cinzas United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste

𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐋𝐀-𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐔 𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔(Alola Media / Hong Kong) Th...
01/10/2026

𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐋𝐀-𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐔 𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

(Alola Media / Hong Kong) The presence of Alola Foundation, a non-governmental organization from Timor-Leste, on this global health stage marks a pivotal moment—not only in strengthening cancer management in developing nations, but also in supporting women fighting cancer in Timor-Leste.

Represented by the Executive Director of Alola Foundation, Ms. Maria Guterres, and the coordinator of the MCH sub-program known as HALIKU (Ha'u Hili Atu Kura - "I Choose to Heal"), the delegation participated in the World Cancer Congress 2026, organized by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in partnership with the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society from September 24–26, 2026.

Attended by representatives from 122 countries, the congress served as a strategic forum for researchers, political figures, and medical professionals. It was also an essential platform for civil society organizations to highlight the real-world challenges they face in cancer care.

𝑩𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑳𝑶𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑮𝑳𝑶𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑬

In a country where medical infrastructure is still developing, breast and cervical cancers remain major risks facing women. Severe geographical barriers, a lack of early diagnostic tools, and persistent social stigma mean that many patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. The reality of community-level work carried out by the HALIKU sub-program in providing early education on women's cancer prevention was a key perspective highlighted during the 2026 congress.

Initiated by the Founder of Alola Foundation, Ms. Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the HALIKU program has been a pioneer in women's cancer advocacy. For over 12 years, it has conducted awareness campaigns, accompanied patients through treatment, and provided specialized training for local health professionals.

"Our presence at the World Cancer Congress 2026 is not only to absorb experiences from global organizations dedicated to cancer control, but also to amplify the voices of Timorese women fighting cancer," stated Ms. Pascoela Barreto, representative of the HALIKU team.

𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙀𝙉𝙂𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙇𝙔 𝘿𝙀𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙎𝙐𝙍𝙑𝙄𝙑𝙊𝙍𝙎' 𝙑𝙊𝙄𝘾𝙀𝙎

During the three-day congress, the Alola Foundation delegation focused on three key strategic agendas. First, they shared successful experiences from the HALIKU program through an E-Poster presentation titled "Co-Designing for Equity: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Workshop advancing equitable cervical screening and preventative treatment in Timor-Leste."

Furthermore, the delegation attended a session presenting "Patient Navigation for Chinese Population and Across the World," moderated by the Global Chinese Breast Cancer Foundation, Flinders University, and the American Cancer Society.

On the sidelines of the congress, the HALIKU-Alola delegation met with representatives from UICC, EPICC, and regional nations such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu to discuss deeper collaboration on accelerating cervical cancer elimination in the Indo-Pacific region (South Pacific and Southeast Asia).

Meetings were also held with various organizations, including Pink Drive from Africa, Ranjit Survivor Breast Cancer from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, and Ms. Kristen McComb from the American Cancer Society.

"An unforgettable moment for me was attending the session on women's cancer and hearing about patient navigation and collaborative initiatives. It gave me new insights and perspectives that I can apply to our own programs," said Ms. Pascoela Barreto.

The presence of Alola Foundation in Hong Kong underscores the strategic role of Timor-Leste’s civil society organizations—not merely as recipients of health aid, but as active contributors to global health diplomacy. This cancer congress has also opened new opportunities to expand partnerships with various institutions committed to preventing women's cancers.

"The key takeaway from my experience participating in this congress is the opportunity to expand our network with colleagues from other countries, as these working connections will form a strong foundation for future partnerships and collaborations," reinforced Ms. Pascoela Barreto.

Alola Australia Palácio das Cinzas United Nations Nasoins Unidas Timor-Leste UICC - Union for International Cancer Control American Cancer Society

Endereço

Http://www. Alolafoundation. Org/
Dili
POBOX03DILITIMOR-LESTEDILI,TIMOR-LESTE;HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/ALOLAFOUNDATION;HTTP:

Horário de Funcionamento

Segunda-feira 09:00 - 17:00
Terça-feira 09:00 - 17:00
Quarta-feira 09:00 - 17:00
Quinta-feira 09:00 - 17:00
Sexta-feira 09:00 - 17:00

Telefone

+6703323855

Website

,

Notificações

Seja o primeiro a saber: enviamos-lhe um e-mail quando Alola Foundation publicar novidades e promoções. O seu endereço de e-mail não será utilizado para nenhum outro fim e pode cancelar a subscrição a qualquer momento.

Contactar A Organização

Envie uma mensagem para Alola Foundation:

Atalhos

Partilhar

Categoria