Sacred Cloth and Development in <i>Timor-Leste</i>

Abstract

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Women in Timor-Leste hand-weave textiles that play a significant role in their culture, particularly in the wake of destructive conflicts in that society. A nascent handcraft industry primarily composed of poor rural women represents a vulnerable and marginalized section of society. For many of these women, selling their handcraft products is the only way to earn cash to pay for essential items. Assisting these women and their families to develop sustainable livelihoods in this small industry is a worthy development goal which is grounded in women's cultural and social realities. However, new exploratory research indicates that, like handcraft producers everywhere in the world, they face great obstacles in marketing their goods and retaining the cultural integrity of their products and practices while gaining a fair return for their work. A central conclusion arrived at is that a coordinated and dedicated national craft development program is needed in Timor-Leste. This should be based on the current realities of production and trade, and the distinct types and social variables of women producers, all of which requires further investigation. These projects must have the goal of empowering the participants, rather than merely seeking a simple economic return for their work.