East Timor - real lives

In order to give youth in Timor Leste the opportunity to make their own contribution to current peace-building initiatives, ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Timor Leste organised the National Youth Forum for Peace and Development. The theme of the forum was "Juventude hanesan Agencia ba Paz no Unidade Nasional" or "Youth as Agency for Peace and National Unity". ChildFund in Timor Leste invited people aged 15-26 years from 13 different youth organisations - ensuring youth representation from across the whole country.

The main objectives of the forum were to provide a space for young people to express their ideas and concerns on the current state of the nation and its young people; and identify ways in which young people can address their own situation, as well as become agents for peace and development. The forum provided an opportunity to produce realistic action plans that young people can implement in their own districts.

During the forum, all participants attended workshops, as well as getting involved in sport and cultural activities. The forum also included a one day workshop and brainstorming exercise. On the final day of the forum, a panel representing all youth leaders read out their recommendations and personal declarations of commitment from each district. At the Prime Minister's request, a copy of recommendations was also submitted to his office, with the main recommendations being job creation, capacity building and livelihood, and peace building activities.

A delegate from the Manatuto district summarised the event by saying: "Through this national youth forum we can identify our concerns and are able to recommend to the government, NGOs and UN Agencies that they support and address the current issues of young people." Another youth delegate added: "At this forum we, as the youth delegates of 13 districts, are able to show and promote peace and friendship to our colleagues and Timorese people who are spread out in this tiny country."