Background:

One of the primary goals of the U.S. Government (USG) in Timor-Leste is to promote stability and to create conditions for this young country to emerge as a secure, democratic and prosperous state.  While the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste departed in 2012, the country continues to face challenges in bolstering stability, strengthening weak security sector institutions, maintaining the rule of law, and addressing gender-based violence.  USG assistance, through the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of State (DOS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and USAID, aims to support the Government of Timor-Leste (GOTL) and security forces to institutionalize Timor-Leste’s significant progress in maintaining the stability needed for its growing population to thrive in the coming years.

 

Summary:

Timor-Leste is currently at a critical juncture in its transformation from post-conflict recovery to long-term development.  Almost half (46%) of the total population in Timor-Leste is below the age of 18, and the population that falls within the ‘youth cohort’ (between 15-29 years) accounts for roughly 30% of the Timorese population.  Thus, USAID believes that Timorese youth must be involved politically, economically and socially as drivers of the country’s future.

USAID’s Youth Engagement to Promote Stability (YEPS) provides mentoring and training to youth on leadership skills, debate skills and production of radio talk shows and public service announcements on topics such as domestic violence and conflict mitigation.  YEPS connects youth with national decision makers to explore and discuss salient issues and drivers of youth related conflict. Through comic books, YEPS improves youth awareness and knowledge on peacebuilding and good governance.

USAID’s YEPS takes an innovative approach that uses community radio as a tool to transform ways for the Timorese youth to deal with conflict. The grant helps young people to move away from adversarial approaches towards cooperative solutions. Funded through the U.S. State Department's Security and Stabilization Assistance Program, USAID’s YEPS also teaches young people useful communications skills and teamwork, particularly through media and outreach activities. 

Since its inception, USAID’s YEPS and its local partners have produced and broadcast 24 episodes of a radio magazine and 25 episodes of a radio drama  addressing issues identified by the youth as important to them and their communities such as, unemployment, domestic violence, youth conflict and manipulation of youth. In 2013, USAID conducted eight youth outreach activities in four districts, which included civic leadership training courses and helped Timorese youth develop and practice leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.