F

or women in several villages in Kupang regency, household status and rural life are not an impediment to learning to write and develop their capacity.

Many keep abreast of the latest information by reading discarded newspapers and other reading
materials.

The habit has revealed their potential, as recently proven by the Household Food Reliance writing contest, organized by the Circle of Imagine Society (CIS Timor) and ActionAid International, sponsored by the Australian government’s Overseas Aid Program (AusAid).

Yulian Pakh-Lay Doko, 37, from Tanah Merah village, Central Kupang district, was chosen as the competition’s winner with her essay titled “Let the Stove Keep Burning”.

The two-page essay depicted the story of a village woman facing the impacts of climate change and a declining harvest.

“I ask for used newspaper every day from my neighbors at the market. I am eager to read and try to understand the stories,” she said.

“I did not expect to be the winner. My essay is simple, as it tells the story of a village woman who is working hard to boost the yield of her farm, where harvests have been in decline due to a string of harvest failures,” she said about her essay.

“She does this to maintain her family’s food.”

The event organizers appreciated women’s writing skills.

“She [Yuliana], including three other winners, completely described the role of women in supporting their families’ economy currently threatened by food crisis due to the impacts of climate change,” CIS Timor media and networking coordinator Olyvianus Dadi Lado said.

The essay contest featured dozens of poorly educated villagers who were mainly housewives and farmers.

“Only a few of them graduated from junior high school,” Olyvianus said.