Erkulanu de Sousa

Sustainable Development & Agriculture - East Timor (East Asia)

Erkulanu grew up in East Timor between two villages, neither with basic access to clean drinking water. Uncontrolled deforestation over many years had caused a lot of environmental degradation and because of this, water sources were very limited. People passing through these villages never asked for drinking water because they already knew the answer: “…we don’t have enough”.

Reforestation is not a new term in Erkulanu’s community. However community members have never been involved in reforestation decisions or processes. All designs and decisions for the community were made by those "on the outside". Because of this, no environmental responsibility has been taken in protecting re-planted areas and subsequently, much of the area has been destroyed.

Erkulanu recognises the need for community participation in managing the environment in East Timor. She understands that valuing local knowledge is one of the ways towards sustainability. Erkulanu has formed an organisation that aims to teach the community, placing emphasis on teaching young people, the environment is “mine, yours, his/ hers, their and our issue”.

Erkulanu’s organisation has worked to conserve land surrounding the water sources in each village. Men, women and young people have built fences and planted around 1000 trees in each location. The trees are now growing well and the water supply is increasing. People in the community have started to become the actors in controlling, and slowing down, the environmental degradation.

Through Erkulanu’s action plan there is the hope "that coming generations will have no problem fulfilling their basic survival needs.”

Update

Erkulanu's NGO (Y-ACTS) is now also looking at livelihoods issues particularly agriculture. Maybe in August they will be having a “Farmer field school” project. The NGO have submitted the proposal to Oxfam Australia, which is nearly approved. The Caritas Australia and the World Neighbour (WN) are also their potential partners now and in the future.