LAHO - The future starts today in East Timor

Loran Aban Hahu Ohin (LAHO) means "the future starts today" in Timorese. It is also the name of a small farmers' co-op started by Fr. Pat McAnally, an Irish Oblate priest now based in Australia. East Timor is slowly getting on its feet after a bloody and traumatic separation from Indonesia.

LAHO is based in a former military barracks and detention centre, using a place with bad memories for a better future. Sericulture - silkworm cultivation - and silk production was identified as a positive development opportunity for up to 2,500 subsistence farmers, who are trying to transition to income generating farming. A baseline study suggested potential for growing incomes from $50 to $200 per month. In June 2004, ElectricAid assisted LAHO with €4,000, to cover training costs in sericulture for 20 selected co-op members. Other development aid came from Australia Aid and from The CSTWF, our Civil Service equivalents. The upskilling of coop members in silk production was a big success. Gross production was greatly increased - and the coop's biggest need was now the marketing of its production.

In 2005, ElectricAid helped LAHO again - with €3,760 to convert a disused space into a retail shop for the silk and other village products from LAHO. Sales of product, primarily to the tourist market, have tripled in the year since we funded the shop. LAHO's story in another excellent example of how small, wellthought out aid inputs can help kick-start development for very many people - in this case 2,500 East Timorese farm families. The future for all of us starts today - with your help, their future is brighter and more secure.