DILI, 22 August 2024 (TATOLI) – As part of the Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste’s coastal areas are home to extensive marine ecosystems that are crucial to the livelihoods, food security, defence against high waves during cyclones, and well-being of coastal communities. The effects of climate change and over-exploitation of marine resources are increasingly threatening marine biodiversity and the future of coastal communities. Global evidence demonstrates that women are key stakeholders in ensuring that community and marine resources are effectively managed to enable sustainable livelihoods activities within a protected environment for future generations. However, women are frequently underrepresented in community leadership roles, and face barriers to participating in conservation and climate decision-making, from global and national policy spaces to local resource management groups.
In the new Jornalista Ki’ik activity facilitated by CARE’s Lafaek project, CARE is excited to engage with Dircia Sarmento Belo, climate change activist and the founder of Laudato Si Movement Timor-Leste, an initiative committed to mobilising the youth to advance climate actions.
In her interview with CARE in 2021, Dircia revealed that her passion for climate justice and conservation originated as a 12 year old from reading CARE’s Lafaek magazine. A story about a child’s adventure in the forest would later inspire her to become a passionate activist. Now as a young adult, Dircia is being interviewed by two primary school students from Dili, and the content will be featured in the new edition of the Lafaek Ki’ik magazine, and Lafaek and CARE digital platforms. With this, she hopes to achieve a similar impact on other young people across Timor-Leste as she did at age 12.
The Jornalista Ki’ik activity reflects CARE’s climate justice approach which prioritises engagement and partnership with communities and local actors, thereby enabling the prioritisation of indigenous knowledge and capacities. Recognising the barriers to women’s participation in climate justice and conservation efforts, our approach uses a gender transformative adaptation lens to build agency, change power relationships, and transform structures so that disadvantaged, climate vulnerable women can participate and lead in adaptation decision making.
CARE’s work is rooted in community-based adaptation to climate change, and combines locally-led identification of the risks of climate change and biodiversity loss, with the aim of strengthening local capacities to adapt. This includes providing space to give voice to climate activists, such as Dircia. Through her engagement with the Lafaek magazine and social media channels, we hope to encourage the next generation of young people to follow her lead in taking positive action for climate change and conservation throughout the country.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
