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Railaco, Timor Leste
This week, Emily Faller, Programs and Impact Director and Nicole Wailes, Finance and Operations Director, return to Timor Leste. This is another step towards re-establishing our presence in Timor Leste and returning to communities that have long held a connection to our Edmund Rice network.
As we prepared for this renewed chapter, our priority was clear: listen deeply to community voices before starting any programming. We consulted families across the Railaco Administrative Post in Ermera Municipality. Through conversations with 454 households, we gained rich insight into community strengths, daily realities, emerging challenges, and hopes for the future.
Earlier this year, we successfully completed workshops in five villages, including Railaco Craik, Railaco Leten, Teraco, Samalete, and Delese, and consulted with a women’s group that has established a cooperative. Women, men, and local authorities participated strongly, and everyone actively engaged in the discussions.
What emerged is a powerful picture of resilience, ambition, and gratitude and clear community priorities for the future.
Railaco communities demonstrate a strong drive to improve and a willingness and capacity to work together. Women, men and people living with disabilities are actively included in community life. This social cohesion provides a strong platform for locally driven development.
Looking ahead, communities identified three key priorities:
These needs reflect practical, achievable steps toward greater stability and dignity.
As we return to Timor-Leste, our work will be guided by what communities have told us matters most, ensuring that future programs are locally led, deeply relevant, and built for long-term impact.
Your support keeps this momentum strong and helps us establish a Branch Office in Timor Leste. Every contribution helps communities define their own future with dignity.
