4 Timor-Leste social enterprises that empower youth and women

The Star

11-07-2025

Did you know that Timor-Leste has the youngest population in the South-East Asian region? According to a Seasia Stats research in 2023, the country has the lowest average age population in South-East Asia, at 20.9 years.
It is also the youngest nation in the region, meaning that there is still a lot of growing and developing to do by the nation and its people. As the country's future leaders and game-changers, its youths require guidance and empowerment to reach their full potentials.
Here are four social enterprises that we had the chance to visit in Timor-Leste, which focus on educating the youth as well as empowering women in order to improve their quality of life and build a brighter tomorrow.
Pro-ema Restaurant School
This Dili-based school is part of the Pro-ema Organisation (www.pro-ema.org), founded by Simone B. Assis in 2018 to empower adolescent girls and young women in Timor-Leste. The students come from low-income background and have faced violence and abuse in their upbringing.
At Pro-ema Restaurant School, students are taught culinary skills to prepare them for a career in the food industry. Graduates have gone on to work locally and internationally.
The organisation, which later expanded to include boys and young men as well, also has other establishments, including a beauty salon and an inn, to help local youths hone their skills in various fields.
Agora Food Studio
Also set in Dili, Agora Food Studio is a restaurant and cafe under Timor-Leste Food Lab, a gastronomic social enterprise co-founded by Alva Lim and Mark Notaras in 2016.
With a farm-to-table concept, the eatery was established as a means of promoting the production and consumption of local food, as most of the food in the country tends to be imported from elsewhere.
It also funds the enterprise's efforts of mentoring local youths to become leaders and entrepreneurs in fields related to food and tourism.
During our dinner, courtesy of The Asia Foundation and New Zealand Embassy in Timor-Leste, we got a taste of local dishes made only with the freshest ingredients, including vegetables, beef and fish.
Some of the handmade dolls sold at Boneca de Atauro. — Photos: FLOREY D. MIKIL/The Star
Boneca de Atauro
At one of the villages on the island of Atauro, stands a nondescript white building that houses a little shop selling handmade dolls and bags. Tachia, who was manning the counter the day we visited, proudly said, 'We have 49 women and 1 boy.'
She is, of course, among the 50 members of Boneca de Atauro, a community-based enterprise established in 2006 as a way for the island's local women to make an income.
Young boys are welcome too, it seems, provided they are keen to work.
The bonecas (Portuguese for 'dolls') are made from a type of cloth called hena, she explained.
While the shop was packed that sunny June day, she said that January to March usually bring no tourists, meaning no income for them. During months with higher visits, they could earn up to US$150 (RM637) per month.
Some of the visitors have even become regulars. The country's proximity to Darwin, Australia means that Australian tourists can easily make the trip from their hometown to the island to purchase a handicraft or two and help support the local community.
Biojoia de Atauro is formed by hearing-impaired women who earn their living producing handmade jewellery.
Biojoia de Atauro
At the same village, right across the road, is a traditional-looking little green building. We ventured inside to find handmade jewellery displayed throughout.
Some are carved from wood, some made from the traditional textile tais, some from stones and seeds – all are made by hearing-impaired local women.
Biojoia de Atauro is a cooperative formed by these women, who come from impoverished backgrounds, to improve their quality of life. Buying these ethically produced and sustainable jewellery goes a long way in empowering the women and their community.
Travel notes
Getting there: You can now fly direct to Timor Leste from Kuala Lumpur via local airline Batik Air. Batik Air (batikair.com.my) operates direct flights twice weekly (Monday and Friday) to Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Timor Leste from KLIA Terminal 1 in Malaysia.
Where to stay: Palm Springs Hotel Dili, Hotel Timor, Novo Turismo Resort And Spa, JL World Hotel Dili, The Plaza Hotel are just a handful of the hotels to check out.
Currency: US dollar is the official currency in Timor Leste. Best to carry cash here as debit/credit cards are generally not accepted in stores.
More information: Find out more about Timor-Leste at www.timorleste.tl