Why is it important?

Timor-Leste still remains one of the poorest nations on earth, with:

• 40% of the population unable to attain a minimum standard of living
• 63% of the population earn less than $2 per day.
• 70% of people over the age of thirty and 25% of 6-18 year olds have never attended school.
• One in five children die before they reach their 5th birthday
• Only 1 in 4 births is attended by a health worker.
• Only 11% of people in rural areas have access to electricity, and;
• 480 villages, where some 32% of the population live, have never had a sustainable telecommunications system.