Caritas in Timor-Leste Over the last decade Caritas has also supported a Catholic radio station owned by the diocese of Dili called RTK Since 2004, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has supported HAFOTI, an organisation for rural Timorese women
Can you guess what HAFOTI stands for? HAFOTI is the shortened name for Hamahon Feto Timor, which translates to… ‘Umbrella organisation for Timorese women’
250 HAFOTI women work together to support each other in business What? 250 HAFOTI women work together to support each other in business
Why? HAFOTI exists because there are very limited economic opportunities for women in Timor-Leste This does not make it easy to provide for the family
Where? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/LocationEastTimor.svg/1280px-LocationEastTimor.svg.png HAFOTI has groups in seven districts throughout Timor-Leste (plus a shop in Dili)
Mana Dortia is the directress of HAFOTI
Training sessions are held regularly In this photo, women are learning how to make dried fruit
Revolving credit allows members to set up businesses and get resources they need
Many products are sold in Dili supermarkets
Other products such as soy milk, donuts and banana chips are sold in local schools
Let’s see the HAFOTI women at work… Check out the HAFOTI website too at www.hafoti.org
Slicing banana chips
Frying banana chips
Preparing soy milk
Managing a kiosk and baking fresh goods
Weaving traditional tais (woven fabric)
Processing coconut to make coconut oil
The first HAFOTI production centre was opened in Aileu in 2017
The plan is to open six new additional production centres in the other districts over the next few years
All funds raised during the 2018 Caritas Challenge will support the women of HAFOTI Find out more at www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-challenge
Photo credits: Helen Reynolds