Etwa

ETWA is a volunteer organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. We work to support East Timorese women through community oriented programs, particularly in the handcrafts industry. We aim to give women the opportunity to make real the benefits of sustainable handcrafts enterprises and through the richness of weaving, help them maintain cultural integrity. We attempt to develop relationships based on reciprocity, so the things we learn from our friends in East Timor are equally as important as the gift of support we bring. By creating opportunity to come together in community we will contribute to sustainability both in East Timor and Australia. We learn from each other; working closely and communally to enjoy the rewards that working across cultures brings. From Timorese women, we have opportunities to learn the values of kinship, patience, resourcefulness and living in unanimity with the environment. From us, Timorese women are given opportunities to extend their market reach and improve their access to things they can’t afford, maintain traditional practices and share the riches of their culture.