Dean in Dili: Adventures in East Timor: A Trip to the Districts

I was very lucky to get the opportunity to travel outside of Dili to a few rural district villages. Meredith needed someone to help take photos and film interviews she was conducting for her Masters thesis on women's involvement in community water groups. We traveled with a driver and a translator to the districts of Ainaro, Aileu, Manatuto, and Baucau. I listened in on women's experiences and got a better understanding of what life was like living in a small village. I saw the how strong these women were as they explained having to take care of their families while also dedicating time to help make their communities better. I began to see how frustrating it could be not having access to basic resources like water, and having to rely on broken linkages to the government and NGOs to fix a water source. Women also faced barriers to participation; Timor-Leste has very traditional gender attitudes as women are expected to stay home and raise the children and do the housework. Husbands typically are the decision makers and women have limited opportunities to be involved in community groups. I found it inspiring to see these women, without many resources or even role models, taking the necessary action to do what they felt was right for their communities, their families, and themselves.

I was able to leave the villages feeling very hopeful because not only were these women able to break out of traditional gender roles and improve their lives, but also pave the way for their daughters' futures as well. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience.