You’re helping Domingos and his son

Domingos and his son Delvio Da Silva are pictured above in front of their new toilet. They are members of the Raitaho Self Help Group, in Timor Leste. The group formed when two other Self Help Groups merged last year. They meet once a month and have 17 members.

The group is a powerful movement for change in their community. Working with the village chief, a youth representative and the local government, they organised a clean-up program to clear litter from their village. Before this initiative members of the group were often ignored because they had leprosy or disability. But now everyone in the village recognises their contributions to the community. The village chief is so proud of the group that he refers to them in community meetings as an example of good citizens.

The group has also organised an awareness-raising event on leprosy and disability. At this event the group were able to see that an attending man had leprosy. He had before taken Multi-Drug Therapy for leprosy until he defaulted. The group has helped him see a health worker and start treatment once more. The group has also been active in coordinating the installation of toilets. Thanks to your support of the Raitaho Self Help Group, a water point has also been installed in their village. This means villagers, like Domingos, don’t have to make the difficult 3km journey to safe water ever again. This allows the villagers to spend more time with their families. Raitaho Self Help Group members have received loans to start small businesses growing and selling vegetables. Others have built small kiosks selling basic household products. As profits pay back their initial loan, the group has growing capital available for other businesses. They are currently saving money to start a co-op raising and selling animals. Children of the members have also been able to access scholarships to attend school, and a blind member of the group has been able to afford to travel to learn braille-reading in Dili.

The group hopes to build a fund to help group members cover the funeral costs for their families. Poor families in Timor Leste often gain great debts to afford funerals.

They also hope to support members access better housing and improved wheelchairs.