About us
ETWA is a volunteer organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. We work to support East Timorese women through community oriented programs, particularly in the handcrafts industry. We aim to give women the opportunity to make real the benefits of sustainable handcrafts enterprises and through the richness of weaving, help them maintain cultural integrity.
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 and this is reflected in our motto. Given opportunity to come together in community we will contribute to sustainability both in East Timor and Australia. It reflects a process where we create and seize opportunities to learn from each other; working closely and communally to enjoy the rewards that working across cultures brings. 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.
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 Tour to East Timor, our Schools Community Program 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.
In East Timor, we work with the Cooperative for Tais and Cultural Development (CTCD) to support three weaving collectives in the eastern regions. Click here to learn more about CTCD.
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