East Timor Women Australia is a Melbourne based not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. We work to support women in three remote communities on the eastern tip of the island of Timor-Leste. Through the medium of cultural handcrafts, we aim to help women ease the burdens of poverty and maintain their cultural integrity.

ETWA works with the Cooperative for Tais, Culture and Sustainable Development (Cooperativa Tais, Kultura, Desenvolvimento Sustenavel or CTKDS). The purpose of the ETWA-CTKDS partnership is to support the socio-economic well-being, self-sustainability and cultural empowerment of East Timorese women through community oriented programs, particularly in the handcrafts industry.

CTKD’s mission is to improve the lives of women and their families and strengthen the socio-economic base of communities throughcooperative development in Iliomar and Los Palos.

In Australia, our members work within a Community Development framework to engage and connect with each other and the broader community. Undertaking projects such as our Weaving/Cultural Tour to East Timor, Schools Community Program, Weavers Health Study, Chocodile Fundraising Initiative or running events, we make space for creativity to help our members achieve their potential while also raising funds for and awareness about the daily struggles of East Timorese women.

We attempt to develop relationships based on reciprocity, so the things we learn from our friends in East Timor are equally as important as the gift of support we bring. From Timorese women, we have opportunities to learn the values of kinship, patience, resourcefulness and living in unanimity with the environment. From us, Timorese women are given opportunities to extend their market reach and improve their access to things they can’t afford, maintain traditional practices and share the riches of their culture.

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LOCATION

The Augustine Centre

2 Minona Street Hawthorn VIC 3122

PO Box 3079 Auburn VIC 3123

Ph: +61 3 9819 3239

Fax: +61 3 9819 3439

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