Working Together
for
​Youth Development

Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Nasional
Young people working together for Youth Development

History
Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Násional (JDN) was formed by Timorese young people aged 17-24 to engage our peers in discussion and action to address some of the issues we face and increase opportunities for ourselves and other young people.  Early in 2014, twelve of us began meeting with two Australian volunteers to develop our understanding of young people’s views about unemployment problems, other youth issues and possible solutions.  Since then, with assistance from the two volunteers, we formed a national NGO that was registered with FONGTIL and the Ministry of Justice in 2015/16 and we continue to develop the skills needed to achieve our personal and organizational goals.
 
Our priorities for 2023 are:
  • Engage more sexual harassment activists in community-based education and action.
  • Advocate for a Code of Conduct to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment on public transport.
  • Peer education and action of young men as gender equality influencers in their families and communities.
  • Continue acting with young plwds to prevent discrimination and increase education opportunities.
  • Peer education of youth nutrition educators to educate other young people, particularly young mothers, in their communities.
  • Training of professional tour guides for JDN's History and Culture Tours.
  • Leadership development of JDN members so we can respond to the issues affecting young people.

​Vision
The vision of Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Nasionál (JDN) is that all young people in Timor-Leste can live with dignity and equality. 
​
Who We Are
Members of JDN are either continuing post secondary school studies, working or looking for work. Thirteen members are currently working on a full-time or part-time basis to coordinate JDN's leadership development opportunities and project activities with assistance from our two advisors. Everything we do aims to build the skills, knowledge and capacity of JDN members and other young people who participate in projects organised by JDN.  

​Our Board meets quarterly to review organisational and project developments and provide advice.  The Board consists of JDN members Elga Maria da Silva, Ines da Costa, as well as Mr Manuel Dos Santos, Ms Sonia Lay, Mr Nelson Mesquita, Ms Bernadette McEvoy and Ms Jenny Lauritsen.   A coordinating group of 12 JDN members are responsible for implementing activities that respond to JDN's annual priorities.

What We Do
In order to achieve our vision Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Nasionál:
  • Develops programs and services to assist young people participate in training and obtain employment.
  • Provides non formal education for young people living in Dili and the municipalities about the issues that affect them, including gender equality, nutrition and health,  preparation for employment.
  • Provides leadership development training for young people 17-24 so we have the capacity, skills and knowledge to look for solutions to our own problems.
  • Builds the organisational development skills of JDN leaders so that we have the capacity to achieve the goals of JDN.

​In the course of a year’s work JDN aims to address the systemic issues that persist in creating obstacles for the healthy and productive development of young people and our society.
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Important achievements during 2022 include:
  • Training of 50 young people with disabilities as youth leaders in prioritising and acting on the issues they want to change, including inclusive education; speaking for themselves, use of correct terminology and changing attitudes in their families and communities.
  • A draft Code of Conduct for public transport drivers that is under consideration by the Minister of Transport and Communication. 
  • JDN was awarded a Tourism Champions Award for Best Dili Tour Experience. The award was presented by Jose Ramos Horta, President of T-L (pictured left).
  • Ten young people, including 6 women obtained a licence to drive JDN's microlet for community activities and JDN tours.
  • On-the-job skills development of 100 peer educators in all JDN's priority areas.
  • 2,500 young people participated in community education leading to action for change.
​Pictured here with JDN's microlet are new drivers Ines, Elga, Nea and Alianca.
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