Youth is not a problem but youth is the solution to the country's future

As we all know, many people preach to young people that “young people are the authors of conflict” but in reality many young people strive to create jobs for themselves, by creating groups to explore fertile lands with the objective of promote and develop agricultural activity. Despite the low income, work is done by young people, as the only alternative to complete the needs and expectations to reduce unemployment in the country. On the other hand, activities carried out by young people, as a means to contribute to economic diversification in Timor Leste.

Most Timorese are dependent on agricultural activities, on the other hand, many young people do not have the initiative to develop agricultural activities. But because of the situation and conditions that young people face, some young people in the grassroots or rural areas, began to develop agricultural activities, through the establishment of a group called the Inisiativa Desenvolvimentu  Hortikultura Rural [IDOR]  The group exists to plant crops, raise fish, grow vegetables and products that the market needs, this activity with the intention to increase agricultural production so as to meet the requirements of the market.

Rural Horticulture Development Initiative Group-IDOR, established on August 27, 2017, the headquarters of the group, located in Sosoher Village, Ribeu District, Administrative Post, Ermera, Ermera Municipality. The objective of IDOR is to teach young people not to depend only on parents and hold hands with the Government. However, I want to give lessons to young people to know how to use themselves to contribute to the beloved country Timor-Leste.

Jeronimo Barreto Soares as Coordinator of the group, reported that the group has a permanent structure of seven (7) with 25 workers, total group members of 32, of which four are men -20 and 12 women. Through a conversation between APFTL members and group coordinator, on 09/04/2022, he also said that "Young people are not a problem, but young people are the solution to the future of the country" With this motivational phrase, he encouraged many young people to form groups and encouraged other young people to come and take part in the group to work so they can take advantage to complete the needs of life.

Women's involvement in IDOR group activities comes from the mothers' own initiative, because they see that the group does very good activities and the community feels happy, so young women and men who live near the workplace IDOR, began to approach to contribute and some young people registered as members and joined the structure. Many young people want to take part in all activities, but IDOR does not have enough resources to solve everyone's challenges, so the group does not have the ability to accumulate many people in it.

IDOR group coordinator, Jeronimo Barreto Soares, reported to the APFTL team that “our group conducted the first activity with nurseries/planting trees, and plants that live, today we have received its benefits/money. The initiative to plant these trees began in 2017 to 2018, our group had the opportunity through a program offered by the international agency UNDP, a project related to our activity or planting trees. to prevent natural disasters in the municipalities of Dili, Aileu, Ainaro and Ermera. Although Ermera Municipality also participated in this project, but Ermera Municipality already has nurseries, so, UNDP offered or supported our group on aquaculture or fish farming in the amount of $ 2000.00. This money we used to build two fish ponds and the result is that now we have a production with enough volume, quality fish that we raise such as: tilapia, mas fish and according to plan to raise jumbo fish”.

The Group Coordinator also added that; “During this time we have built seven farms [7], so we divide the workers to be able to control these farms themselves, we also have a simple house as a center to accumulate group members. Results or income from the work is there, each member is obliged to contribute 20% to the group's cash, for example a member gets $ 50.00, koa $.10.00, in the future if the cash / income is up, we will build another field to bring in two more young people to see or work in the new location''.

On the other hand, member of IDOR women's group, Akelina Pinto expressed; “I feel happy because I can be involved in the IDOR group, although the involvement in this group is not yet a year, but I feel happy because I can help his life through each other planting vegetables and others ... income that we get, although not large, it can help the needs of the family.”

IDOR Group works in four (4) sectors such as; livestock, aquaculture, horticulture and forestry. In the horticulture sector, group members grow vegetables such as broccoli, mustard, alfalfa, cabbage and cabbage. the floral sector grows plants that bear the same fruit; buanaga, rambutan and derok. The aquaculture sector raises fish and the livestock sector raises poultry, pigs, sheep, horses and cattle

From these sectors, the products available, the group harvests quickly to be able to compete in the market so as to get a good income. But depending on the duration and quality of each product, for example modo not grow or small, is each month get an income of $ 100.00 below, if modo grow or grow in three months group can get income up to $.400.00 or $. 500.00.

IDOR Group already has a network or clients that work as partnerships with shops, state institutions and organizations such as: Leader, Lita Store, IADE, Environment and Rotary Club. From the customers, every week the group imports sugar according to the request according to the volume and variety of sugar they prefer. Usually the group harvests 300 kilos and channels it immediately to the market and customers.

According to the verbal contract between the client and the group that; if the group/producer finds transportation to the customer's place, the price of sugar per kilo is $.0.75, if customers come directly, the price of sugar is reduced to $0.50 per kilo. The group always uses public transportation rented from Ermera Municipality to Dili at a price of $ 30.00 dollars. Although the group rents a car only, but does not negatively affect the income, because every month the group can get an income of up to $ 500 less than $ 300. From this money, every year the group's income can reach up to $ 1000.00. The money is used to pay workers and 20?cash groups. The balance of the money is used to complete the needs of the group such as: buying credit, paying for transportation, eating and drinking while working, printing and photocopying.

Group members have a duty to develop and promote the existence of the group, so to get a little or a lot of money depends on each member's efforts and diligence, if the worker is diligent he will make a lot of production and he gets enough money according to his work results . But members always support each other by teaching each other to do the right thing, so that they can get good results. On the other hand, any support from outside the group, considered as a common resource for the group, so the support is there, kept in the center or headquarters of the group to be used for group activities so as to develop and increase production .

IDOR received the highest income in the horticulture sector, therefore, the working group focused on horticulture, but did not leave other sectors, still working for other sectors, because besides the horticulture sector, other sectors also give good income but its production wait for a long time, it can take months to a year to collect and sell for money. However, group members are very proud of IDOR's existence because they do not earn much money, but the work they do can earn money every day. And IDOR's big dream is to bring other young people to do some activities to earn money to improve their lives, IDOR also wants to be a guide for other young people, thus creating jobs for themselves and complete the needs of their families .

At the end of the meeting, the group coordinator made his recommendation that;

• Young people need to create their own jobs to contribute to complete the needs of the family and participate in the development of the country,
• Young people can not be passive in the community, must be a guide to lead others to achieve a better life,
• IDOR plans to expand the group's scope of work, but there will be a lack of knowledge to support the activity, so it recommends to the government, international agencies, APFTL, and OXFAM to support training, so that there is experience to develop better this group.

Author: Francisca da Costa Soares

Sources: : Jeronimo Barreto Soares