The violent aftermath of the independence referendum in 1999 brought the destruction of much of Timor-Leste's infrastructure, including many freshwater fishponds. Now a group of young people in the village of Lahane at the edge of Dili is busy rebuilding the fishponds and reinvigorating the market for freshwater fish.

The young people are members of the Jubileu group, formed in 1998 to help create jobs. In the separation from Indonesia a year later, the nine men and four women of Jubileu lost their fishponds, but not their skills or determination. After the initial work to rebuild and restock their ponds, they found that supply could not meet demand. The next logical step was expansion.

With a grant from USAID's small grants program, the group has now built seven fishponds. To stock them, Jubileu ordered young fish from suppliers in Ermera and Aileu. Members recently took delivery of 1,500 fingerlings, each a month old and less than two inches long, and 500 larger fish of the most popular species among buyers: tilapia and carp. In addition to making direct sales to ready buyers in Dili, the members of Jubileu hope to work with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, as well as other groups who want to learn how to build and stock fishponds.

"The fisheries sector is important for the future of Timor-Leste," explained one group member as he helped unload the fingerlings into a Jubileu fishpond. "With our work we can support national development and create opportunities for ourselves and our families."

USAID supported Jubileu with a grant of $6,700 for building supplies, seed stock, and transportation. The expansion of the group will help revitalized the market for freshwater fish in Dili, boost employment opportunities for young people, and strengthen the local economy.

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