West Timor is a small Christian majority state located in the Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, or NTT. Economically, NTT is the poorest province in Indonesia.

Government estimates indicate that 84 percent of the population live in rural areas with limited access to vital infrastructure. Approximately 80 per cent are self-employed, and 17 per cent are unable to read or write. Often there are families of six living on less than two dollars a day.

Since 2001 UnitingWorld has been working in partnership with the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor and their development arm, Tanaoba Lais Manekat Foundation (TLM) to overcome extreme poverty in rural West Timor, enable access to health care and education and make grassroots, sustainable transformations.

Through an economic empowerment program directly geared to assist rural communities overcome extreme poverty, communities can to build their own futures. Sarce Betty Simon (left), a mother of four children living near the market town of Betun, can now experience a transformed future as a result of this program.

Before Sarce applied for her fi rst loan, she struggled to provide her children with food each day, and only her eldest child could go to school. Sarce’s family lives in the countryside, where infrastructure, cash and employment opportunities are few and far between.

She applied to TLM who loaned her a young cow. Over three months, Sarce fed her cow until it grew big enough to sell at the market. She sold the now more valuable cow, repaid the load to TLM, and kept the profi t. She was able to use this money to send her children to school , and take them for regular health checks.

Sarce has since taken out additional loans, and is now raising two cows to sell. She has nearly fi nished constructing her new home, and is proud to give her children the very best opportunities.

UnitingWorld and TLM are extending this project until 2012 to empower an additional 1200 people just like Sarce. Thank you for helping make this possible through your support.