Manufahi, 30 April 2025 – The Timor-Leste Red Cross (CVTL) conducted a three-day training from 28 to 30 April 2025 in Manufahi for volunteers who will serve as enumerators in an upcoming baseline survey. The training brought together 25 active volunteers from CVTL branches in Ainaro and Manufahi to strengthen their skills in collecting accurate and reliable data.
The training marks a critical preparatory step for the third phase of the Integrated Community-Based Risk Reduction (ICBRR) program. Following the training, the volunteers began data collection activities from 1 to 4 May in Babulo and Mindelo villages in Manufahi, and Manelobas village in Ainaro. The resulting baseline data will guide the planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction efforts tailored to each community’s needs.
Facilitated by Mr. Marcelino Albuquerque, CVTL’s PMER Manager, the sessions were supported by experienced volunteers and staff from CVTL’s National Headquarters, as well as the Ainaro and Same branches, in coordination with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Of the 25 participants, 19 were women, highlighting strong female involvement in community development.
According to Macario Santos Lopes of the IFRC Delegation in Timor-Leste and Elisabeth Glorita Belo, CVTL’s ICBRR Manager, this phase builds on earlier program successes in Tutuluro, Kaikasa, Sukaer-oan, Manelobas, and Aituto. “Empowering local volunteers with the skills to collect quality data is crucial to designing effective community-based interventions,” they stated.
During the survey, enumerators visited 406 households—284 in Babulo, 82 in Manelobas, and 40 in Mindelo. They also interviewed 260 youth: 126 in Babulo, 99 in Manelobas, and 35 in Mindelo. The data collected is currently undergoing analysis and cleaning.
This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA) through IFRC, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in Timor-Leste through localized risk reduction strategies and inclusive volunteer engagement.
