The sun had just risen to another beautiful day in paradise.  Music and laughter filled the air. Hundreds of youth were dancing Pocho Pocho (a musical exercise adopted from the Portuguese days in Timor-Leste).

And so began CVTL’s Youth Camp – JUPRO– a four day camp for CVTL volunteers from across the country, held in mid-June in the enclave of Timor-Leste called Oecusse.

Red Cross Youth volunteers are the heart of our organisation. The camp aimed to showcase the Red Cross’s support and commitment to the youth of Timor-Leste. Our youth are a strong resource for the future of our Country and for Red Cross. CVTL strongly believes in supporting our youth to be active participants and contributors to society, through centralizing youth programs across all its departments.

The Youth Volunteer Camp is the third held by CVTL, and focused on supporting the volunteers with activities to develop important life skills, and heighten their capacities as Youth Volunteers; this combined with being with other like-minded youth made in a fun and successful event. The camp slogan was “Youth as the Focus for a Healthy Lifestyle”. CVTL wanted to motivate youth to make choices that will support a healthy lifestyle and support them long term into the future.

 

“I have been part of CVTL for eight years. I love the Red Cross. When I first became a CVTL youth volunteer I was very shy and I didn’t have much motivation. I will never give up on CVTL and the Red Cross as it is a very important part of my life. CVTL gives youth the opportunity to build their capacities, learn leadership skills, and disseminate CVTL information and activities to rural areas of Timor-Leste. Through events like JUPRO the youth become motivated to learn and also to protect themselves from conflict and drugs.” Rosalia Martins Araujo, 24, Dili Branch.

“This is my first time at JUPRO Youth Camp. I like this experience very much. Through the daily activities I can increase my capacities, my mentality and I can use this experience to reach other people in my life. I especially like cultural nights and singing with my friends.” Anibal Da Silva Correia, 23, Moumeta, Liquica

“I feel very happy with JUPRO Youth Camp being in my village this year. This is a once in a lifetime experience and it makes me so happy. Becoming a CVTL volunteer has also helped me believe in myself more, I am more confident to try new things and meet new people. This is a great feeling for me and I feel so happy with being a volunteer for CVTL.” Adam Anunu Nono, 24, Pante Macasaar, Oecusse

We would like to give a special thanks for their support to the Office of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, and Australian Red Cross, as well as UNFPA. We also want to thank  all the people who made this event possible including the community of Baqui, Pante Makassa in Oe-Cusse .

Story by CVTL.