Church World Service in East Timor
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CWS East Timor in brief

After 450 years of Portuguese colonization and 24 years (1975-1999) of Indonesian occupation, East Timor became a free Nation on 20 May 2002. East Timor is one of the least developed countries, with a population of almost 800,000 people who speak a multiple of languages. The official language is Portuguese and Tetun.

As part of its focus on nation building, East Timor faces enormous challenges. Preventing an HV epidemic and reducing its impact is one of its most crucial challenges. Religious and cultural constraints for public discussion on sex-related issues, a low level of health awareness and the health care system with limited resources and technical skills only add to the complexities of this challenge.

Political and religious leaders have acknowledged the risk of an HIV/AIDS epidemic if adequate measures are not taken. An urgent challenge for East Timor is to develop and implement an early intervention program as part of the East Timor National Development Plan.

Church World Service (CWS), founded in 1946, is a relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of a consortium of 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard.

CWS global HIV/AIDS program strategy is a multi-year focus to mobilize CWS resources, partners and advocacy network for maximum impact in the global campaign to stem the spread of HIV/AID and mitigate its personal and development impacts.

CWS seeks to address HIV/AIDS through an integrated approach, drawing upon the expertise and networks of our various programs and utilizing three primary strategies: Education/ Advocacy, Capacity building of local partners, services for prevention, care and treatment.

GOAL:

To assist the Government of East Timor to implement the National Strategic Plan for a Comprehensive and Multi-sectoral Response to HIV/AIDS/STI 2002-2005.

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

ACTIVITIES:

1) Education/Advocacy
CWS will educate and mobilize its network of member communions by offering timely and accurate material on stigma and discrimination, and on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. CWS will collaborate with partners to ensure continual information exchange, expand efforts to bringing to light the real stories of communities addressing the root causes of HIV/AIDS, and their prevention, care, treatment, and impact mitigation interventions on the ground.
Advocacy efforts with partners will center on: (a) Combating stigma; and (b) Free universal access for HIV/AIDS medication

2) Capacity-building of local partners
CWS provides accompaniment and support to partners working on HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-related issues in East Timor. The emphasis is on institutional strengthening and capacity- building.

3) Services for Prevention, Care, and Treatment Based upon the needs voiced by partners or identified by CWS staff
CWS provides grants and technical assistance for the following services: to support community-based strategies that target vulnerable populations; people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS; to mobilize and focus the human and financial resources of churches and faith-based organizations; and to address the larger social, economic, and spiritual context of HIV/AIDS in East Timor.