With enthusiast, Elisa Maria da Costa, 34 years old, facilitated the ILO’s two training programmes on disability inclusion. Conducted in collaboration with the organization she works for, Rae Hadomin Timor Oan (RHTO), a National Disabled People’s Organisation in Timor-Leste advocating for the rights of all people with all types of disability, these training programmes have reached a total of 325 government officials and local communities in 12 municipalities of Timor-Leste.

As a Field Officer of RHTO, she has been active in advocating issues related to disability inclusion for five years in her area of work in Baucau Municipality known as the second largest city after the capital city of Dili. Her mission is to raise the awareness about the untapped potentials of persons with the disabilities and urgent needs for the creation of inclusive workplaces to open more employment doors for persons with disabilities in Timor-Leste.

Born with a physical disability, Elisa knows too well the plights of persons with disabilities should experience and endure. From her early years, she had faced harsh comments from her family members and fellow classmates, mocking her: “What can a person with disability like you can do? or “There is no future for you.”

Yet, Elisa refused to give up. She determined to get as high as education she could. “After I graduated from high school, I decided to further pursue my study. It was very tough for me to continue my study because most of my family were against my decision due to my physical condition and lack of financial support,” she recalled.

To realize her dream and to fund her study, she tried to find ways to earn adequate money. She decided to create her own job by collecting rocks, selling them and saving her earnings. “When I had enough money, I decided to go to Dili to study in a community college of EIROS Entrepreneur Institute to get my diploma in computer science,” she said.

Leaving her hometown for the first time, she had another challenge to resolve—find a place to stay in Dili. Again, she refused to see the challenge as a barrier. She even got more motivated to prove that she could do whatever she set her mind to. “Luckily, I found a place in a foundation called HIFAUN Foundation. They hosted me for the duration of my study.”

While doing her undergraduate study, she was also active involving in volunteer works with Nazareth Foundation, a foundation aims to develop the capabilities of disadvantaged people in Timor-Leste. Moreover, she also met the love of her life and, again, had to face discriminative comments about building a relationship.

“Many people including my friends and family mocked our relationship and told me directly that our relationship would not last. Despite all odds, we managed to overcome those discriminations. Now we are happily married for seven years with one child,” she said beaming with a smile.

With her achievements and active involvements in advocating disability inclusion, she has managed a good career as a Project Facilitator in the Aspect of Disability based in Baucau Municipality. She also strongly believes that persons with disability have the right to pursue their dreams, have good education and raise a family.

“Everybody has challenges that he or she has to overcome. Some challenges seem daunting, but I believe they could be solved with determination and persistence. I hope that through sharing my story, people can see that people living with disabilities deserve the same opportunities and treatment like any other people,” she concluded.

The ILO’s training programmes on Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion (GEDI) were conducted under the Roads for Development Supporting Programme (R4D-SP) Bridging Phase. Funded by the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).