Other Partnered Projects
Assisting People who are Blind & Vision Impaired
In Timor-Leste, poverty is widespread and for people who have a physical or intellectual impairment, life is an even greater challenge. Life, Love and Health is providing support to a Timorese NGO called ‘Fuan Nabilan Matan’ (The Heart Providing Light to the Eyes) who are assisting children and adults who are blind. Through our networks of supporters, we have been able to collect and transfer new and second hand mobility canes to allow people with a vision impairment greater independence and freedom of movement.

Thanks to Guide Dogs Victoria, the Friends of Same and members of the Orientation & Mobility Association of Victoria for their assistance in collecting donated canes and the individual LL&H donors who enabled us to purchase new mobility long canes. For those fortunate enough to receive Orientation and Mobility training through ‘Fuan Nabilan Matan’, they will no longer have to rely solely on a child or other family member to guide them around. Mobility canes could enable them to move around independently for the first time in many years – in some cases, for the first time in their lives.

Traditional Handicrafts and Agricultural Training
Life, Love and Health has been supporting the work of several grassroots organisations that are working hard to provide employment, hope and opportunity for their communities. We are helping these groups produce silk, soap, recycled paper gifts and traditional cotton products.

LAHO – ‘Loron Aban Hahu Ohin’ (The Future Starts Today) is a local NGO of committed people who have started and developed a Sericulture (Silk Production) and Agricultural Training Centre. Life, Love and Health has supported LAHO, particularly during the 2006 crisis, to continue to run training in sericulture, fruit tree propagation and other agricultural techniques designed to increase the diversity and quality of food intake in the communities.

LAHO have reclaimed traditional fabrics with their promotion of natural cotton products and in this, and in many other ways, they have sowed the seeds of opportunity. Life, Love and Health has assisted LAHO to develop their governance, product range and infrastructure such as silkworm rearing sheds, to ensure the organisation’s viability.

LAHO is producing silk products of outstanding quality. Through the use of natural dyes, they have developed a niche product and a very marketable range. Show your support of Timor-Leste to your friends by purchasing some beautiful traditional handicrafts. For more information on LAHO products please contact LAHO’s Director, Alfredo Gutteres, on fredygeronimo@hotmail.com

Support of Community Tradespeople
Life, Love and Health has been employing and upskilling community based tradespeople to build schools, including toilets. We are also skilling local tradespeople to build school chairs and desks. LL&H has funded their training in Dili and purchased the raw materials for tradespeople based in the local districts where the schools are being built. This enables a revenue stream for the local communities while providing quality desks and chairs for the students in their regional schools.

Thanks to Forestville RSL in NSW for their support of this capacity building project to build the school chairs and desks.

Sport for Disadvantaged Youth
For several years, Life, Love and Health has been involved in promoting a healthy lifestyle and team based activities through cycling, running and football in Timor-Leste. In 2008, Life, Love and Health will assist a mixed team of young men and women who will compete in a Football ‘Homeless World Cup’ in Melbourne in December 2008. While we will help facilitate the team’s training and travel to Australia, this project will be fully funded by the ‘Homeless World Cup’ sponsors.