EU-ILO Agroforestry Skills project empowers Timor-Leste organisations to deliver essential financial education for families

DILI, Timor-Leste (ILO News) – The EU-ILO Agroforestry Skills for Employment and Resilience Project, funded by the European Union, successfully conducted a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) on Financial Education this past week. The training, designed to equip participants to provide critical money management skills to families, is being supported by the project to increase their household income through employment and business opportunities in agroforestry.

Around 26 prospective trainers from the private sector, the Entrepreneurship Development Support (IADE), training centers such as Community Development Centre (CDC)-Baucau and Fuiloro, as well as members of cooperative groups from Viqueque, among others, came together at Sentru Treinamentu Vokasional Juventude (STVJ) Comoro to acquire new knowledge and develop their training methodology.

This training has given me the confidence to start planning my finances more carefully and to help others do the same.

Salvador Gomes, from Chasun Cooperative in Viqueque municipality

Led by Master Trainer Rini Wahyu Hariyani from Indonesia, the session covered essential topics such as setting and achieving family financial goals; saving, borrowing and spending wisely; the pros and cons of financing through loans versus personal capital; and effective budget management. The training emphasized the importance of understanding one’s financial situation and making informed decisions.

“Many people have life goals to be more prosperous in the future but don't know how to achieve them. It's not about the amount of money one has, but rather about how to manage it most effectively", Rini explained during the session. “Our goal is to develop trainers who can deliver impactful training to beneficiaries, fostering positive attitudes towards managing family finances. ”

Participants were highly engaged, asking questions and sharing their experiences. Salvador Gomes, from Chasun Cooperative in Viqueque municipality, expressed how the training provided him with valuable insights into managing a family budget. "I used to think budgeting wasn't something I needed to do," Gomes remarked. "But now I see how crucial it is for my family and for my community. This training has given me the confidence to start planning my finances more carefully and to help others do the same."

By learning to separate funds for private and business purposes, they can improve their household economies and support their children's education.

Jacinta Abu Cau Pereira, a training participant

Another attendee, Jacinta Abu Cau Pereira, appreciated the practical lessons on saving and investing. "I’ve always been interested in investing, but Rini’s explanations truly motivated me," she said. "I am excited to bring this knowledge back to my community and share it with beneficiaries and farmer groups. By learning to separate funds for private and business purposes, they can improve their household economies and support their children's education."

The training concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants. They left the event feeling empowered and eager to implement what they had learned, ready to share their new knowledge with the communities and farmer groups striving to boost their income from the better work and business opportunities offered by the Agroforestry Skills Project.