Chiquito's story
Chiquito, a farmer and father in Timor Leste, transformed his family’s livelihood through sustainable agriculture training. With support from our partner Caritas Diocesana Maliana, he increased crop production, improved market access, and became a role model for other farmers in his community.
Chiquito's life changed after he joined the Sustainable Livelihoods/Disaster Risk Reduction program. Photo: Tim Lam/Caritas Australia
Food security is a chronic issue in Timor Leste.
After his father passed away, Chiquito took on the responsibility of supporting his whole household. His family depended on their farm and crops for survival and sustenance but had very little cash to purchase food.
“Our lives were simple, however we faced challenges when we did not have enough funds to respond to urgent needs, such as urgent medical bills or whenever there were traditional ceremonies,” Chiquito said.
“We consume what we grew from our vegetable gardens. We had very limited cash, so buying food was not an option for us. Eating meat was something we did not do often.”
My farming activities was small, just enough to feed us and to sell some for extra money.
Chiquito heard about a program run by one of Caritas Australia’s partner in Timor Leste, Caritas Diocesana Maliana. The Sustainable Livelihoods/Disaster Risk Reduction program aims to build the resilience of vulnerable communities like Chiquito’s through strengthening agriculture techniques and improving families’ food security.
Through the program, Chiquito learnt skills in sustainable agriculture that enabled him to maximise the use of his land to grow a wide variety of crops. He also learnt business skills to better understand market demand and supply vegetables to supermarkets in the capital Dili to generate high income.
Chiquito’s production has increased substantially, which means his family has enough income to meet their needs. They no longer have to worry about not having enough cash to buy food for his children or pay for basic medical expenses.
Chiquito can now produce a wide variety of crops and earn income to support his family. Photo: Tim Lam/Caritas Australia
Chiquito and his family in Timor Leste. Photo credit Tim Lam for Caritas Australia.
The program also supported Chiquito’s sister and mother to join a savings and loans group that helps women develop business skills and improve their sources of income.
Chiquito’s resilience and determination has made him a role model for other people in his community. He is using the funds from his successful harvest to invest back into the farm and also provide employment to two other people to work with him. He also volunteers to help at the farm of the orphanage just across the road, sharing his skills and knowledge with the nuns.
“You can start small but with dedication and support your life can change and you can also inspire others to change. ‘Now I can eat fish every day because I learned how to fish’, that’s how I feel today,” Chiquito says.
Along with your generous support, this program is also supported by the Australian Government, through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Along with your generous support, this program is supported by the Australian government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
