Timor-Leste: Deolinda’s story

 

Today Dili has a population of approximately 50,800 people, which are predominantly of Malay, Polynesian, and Papuan descent. The vast majority of the population are Roman Catholic. Timor-Leste is one of only three predominantly Catholic countries in Asia and churches scatter the landscape.

The Australian Government – ILO Partnership is supporting the initiatives of the Government of Timor-Leste to enhance skills training for young people and to expand their employment opportunities as they enter the labour force.The YEP Programme was designed to assist the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) in the preparation and implementation of tools and programmes in the areas of training, entrepreneurship development and labour-intensive works to facilitate the productive access of young women and men to the labour market.

Tackling the challenges of youth employment head on

The Programme carries out its work in all 13 districts of Timor-Leste and has already assisted an estimated 70,000 young women and men between the ages of 15 and 29.

In February 2011, Timor-Leste’s first ever Career Expo was held in Dili. More than 5,000 students attended the event which showcased local employers (Government and private enterprise), training providers and educational institutions promoting career pathways and available opportunities for further study.

Another major result of the project has been the completion of the 2010 Timor-Leste Labour Force Survey (LFS) by the National Statistics Directorate in collaboration with the Labour Market Information Department of the SEFOPE. The LFS has provided valuable demographic and gender-specific insight into the needs of Timor-Leste as it prepares for the challenges of a growing youth population and the added educational requirements to satisfy the aspirations of its work force.

Multimedia:

See how the Youth Employment Programme and the Australian Government – ILO Partners have helped Eugenia de Jesus Cardoso start her own business, please see : Young Timorese beautician is a cut above the rest

You can also join lively online discussions. Hosted by the ILO in Asia-Pacific, and moderated by key players from our region, our professional

Communities of Practice are growing.

Come and have a look: Community of Practice on Youth Employment.

Video: Deolinda’s StoryThis short movie tells a story about Deolinda, a beneficiary of the self-employment promotion programmes implemented by SEFOPE with the assistance of the ILO’s Youth Employment Promotion Programme,funded by AusAID.