50 Local Producers to Participate in Christmas Fair

Dili, Timor-Leste–Local producers from around the country will be participating in the December 8 Christmas Fair organized by the Alola Foundation, with support from USAID’s Small Grants Program and Private Sector Development project. Around 50 local groups representing 11 districts have registered to set up booths for the day.

Handicraft products such as tais, silk products, weavings, dolls, woodcarvings, and others will be on sale. New products from Timor-Leste will also be introduced, such as coconut soap, coconut oil, and silk products.

The Christmas Fair, to be held at Alola’s office and handicraft shop, targets the international community in Timor-Leste who are looking for unique Christmas gifts especially for their families and friends back home. It will be a good opportunity for internationals working in the country to learn more about the diversity and quality of Timorese products. Support for local product development and sales helps support small businesswomen and men and directly contribute to increases in household incomes.

The fair is part of Alola Foundation’s work in responding to the needs of Timorese women by supporting economic empowerment activities, with an emphasis on promoting and developing markets for high quality tais made using the traditional techniques of spinning and dyeing cotton and weaving on backstrap looms. This promotes one of the few cash-based economic activities that many women can engage in, as tais weaving is traditionally a home-based activity and can therefore accommodate the needs of family and household. Alola Foundation also implements programs in the areas of advocacy, education and literacy, maternal and child health and humanitarian assistance.

As many of the producers are debuting as vendors during the Christmas Fair, USAID is also assisting them with their preparations for the event through basic costing and pricing training and practical training in improving communications between buyer and salesperson.