In 2017, our community worked with Many Hands International to launch the Portrait Avo outreach project. The project sought to enhance intergenerational understanding within the region. The initiative included workshops in Cacavei and Leuro, engaging 40 young people (ages 10-15) and their elders in collaborative creative activities. Participants learned to paint portraits, conduct interviews, and capture life stories on film. An exhibition in June 2017 at the Lautem Cultural Centre attracted around 200 community members, celebrating the students’ artwork.

The full collection along with photos of the young artists and their elders can be viewed here.

In early 2018, the project was evaluated, revealing that it sparked children’s curiosity about their elders’ life stories. Creative activities like portrait painting allowed participants to reflect on their differing experiences and the sacrifices made for future generations. Elders shared stories emphasizing the importance of education and cultural belonging, recognizing the value of innovative cultural expression.

The project was generously funded by philanthropists, Kim Dunphy and John Toumbourou.

A journal article about the project by Kim Dunphy and Amy Stevenson was published at the TLSA conference:

Stevenson, A., Dunphy, K., de Lourdes, C., and da Silva, I. (2017). Taka lakuna jerasaun iha Timor-Leste: Oinsá mak programa kriativu bele kontribui. in Peter Job, Antero B. da Silva, Nuno Canas Mendes, Alarico da Costa Ximenes, Mica Barreto Soares, Sara Niner, and Therese Tam (ed). Refereed proceedings of the Timor-Leste Studies Association’s Conference 29-30 June 2017. Melbourne: Timor Leste Studies Association.