ETWA is a small, Melbourne-based, not-for-profit with a big heart for women and girls in Timor-Leste.
ETWA was founded in 2004 to support women’s empowerment through advocacy and action for ethical trade and sustainable development. From supporting short and long-term projects in Timor-Leste to fundraising campaigns and community events in Australia, our committed volunteers work to implement innovative projects to make practical, positive change in women’s lives in Timor-Leste.
Our volunteers have a direct connection with the communities of women we work with and our people-to-people approach has cultivated life-changing opportunities for members of the LO’UD Cooperative, our key partner in Timor-Leste. This partnership is a practical vehicle for Australian women to contribute to supporting the immediate needs of Timorese women whilst helping them shape and build their capabilities over time.
Our main activities are:
Selling Textiles
Projects in Timor-Leste
Campaign for Fair Trade
Our most important partner is the LO’UD Cooperative.
ETWA’s relationship with LO’UD has spanned more than 10 years, it commenced when key members founded three weaving groups in 2007. LO’UD Cooperative is run and operated by women for women.
Their members hail from three weaving groups; one in the central flatlands of Los Palos and two groups in the mountainous sub-district of Iliomar on the southeast coast of Timor-Leste.
Together we have:
Constructed the first rural women’s centre in Timor-Leste
Embedded fair trade practices into LO’UD business and textiles production
Demonstrated traditional hand-weaving as a viable occupation!
In these communities, 80% of women are illiterate, less than 3% of young women attend high school and most families have no cash income.
ETWA and LO’UD work together to reverse these statistics.
LO’UD are now taking control of their future.
They have a solid, participatory and ethical business model and strong prospects for growth. They have a team of skilled members who service the broader Cooperative from a Central office in Lospalos.
In 2013 they developed their first Strategic Plan, no small task given that no LO’UD members have a formal education. They have overcome their disadvantage to successfully navigate the challenges of conducting business in the post-independence, new democracy of Timor-Leste.
Importantly, LO’UD is nurturing the next generation of change-makers and young girls are now taking on leadership roles in their groups and communities.
Fair Futures for women & girls in Timor-Leste
Fair Futures is as a vision-in-action for sustainable development for hand-weavers in Timor-Leste. Fair Futures gives us an opportunity to apply our skills and the learnings from our 10-year relationship with LO’UD to help other entrepreneurs.
Fair Futures applies the principles of mutual-aid and solidarity. We’ve identified two key strategies that have the greatest impact:
Business Sustainability Grant
Fair Futures Business Sustainability Grant is an annual grant and support service awarded to an artisan producer group in Timor-Leste. It aims to help nurture their ability to sustain their enterprise now and into the future.
Business and Production Tools
Provide local producers with a comprehensive suite of practical tools and solutions for design, production and business management, geared to help them build self-managed businesses based on the principles of fair trade.
Meet a few of the long term volunteers
Debra Salvagno
Committee | President Since 2004
Deb has a BA in Community Development and is a founding member of ETWA. She currently serves on the Committee of Management in the role of President. Deb applies her passion for women’s empowerment and community development with her business and rag trade experience to support hand-weavers in Timor-Leste. Deb speaks Tetum, the National language of Timor-Leste, which helps ETWA maintain good communication with LO’UD Cooperative members.
www.debsalvagno.wordpress.com
Kat Ashworth
Committee | Secretary Since 2012
Kat Ashworth is a practical, innovative and colourful designer, who believes in holistic design and communication solutions. With over ten years experience as a Freelance Designer across Fashion, Graphic Design, Web Development, Art Direction, Business Management, Marketing Strategy and most importantly Ethical Production. She brings a valuable contribution to the ETWA Team. Through volunteering with ETWA & LO’UD Kat get’s to fulfill her desire to work with women to consciously preserve traditional artisan trades through re-invention in a contemporary landscape.
www.katashworth.com
Angie Muccillo
Committee | Vice President Since | 2011
Angie is the Founder of Arts in Action and General Manager of the Transitions Film Festival. She is passionate about art, social change and the power of social enterprise to create true social and economic sustainability. With over 15 years previous experience working in the disability and employment sectors Angie is keen to share her skills, knowledge and passion in supporting women in Timor-Leste.
www.artsinaction.com.au www.transitionsfilmfestival.comthe power of social enterprise to create true social and economic sustainability
Kirsten Dudink
Committee | Treasurer Engaged Since | 2015
She is an accomplished artist and produced beautiful sketches for ETWA’s first exhibition
Sharon David
Committee | Member Since | 2006
Sharon has been working and volunteering in the not-for-profit sector for 10 years