Manelobas Village, 12 July 2025 — The Ainaro Branch of the Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL), in partnership with the NGO Ra’es Hadomi Timor-Oan (RHTO), conducted a workshop on disability awareness and inclusion in Manelobas Village.
The training brought together 26 participants, including 14 females and 12 males, both adults and children. The workshop focused on promoting respectful language, reducing stigma, and strengthening communication especially with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Carla Da Conceicao, Project Officer for the Integrated Community-Based Risk Reduction (ICBRR) at CVTL Ainaro, explained that the aim of the training was to foster greater respect and understanding toward people with disabilities within the community.
Inácio Pacheco Martins Dias, staff member of RHTO Ainaro and one of the facilitators, emphasized that participants also gained insight into the different types of disabilities, the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and the key principles for ensuring their rights are upheld.
This initiative forms part of a broader mission to create a more inclusive and respectful society in Timor-Leste. The workshop was made possible with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA) through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
