Culture Programs

     For the cultural program Timor Aid has chosen the preservation of the locally woven fabrics known as Tais, and the development of the local language Tetun, enshrined in the Constitution of Timor-Leste as the national and official language. Tetun and Tais are deeply imbedded in Timorese culture, being the legacy of our ancestors, they fortify our spirit and our Timorese identity.


    Tetun (also called Tetun Prasa) is derived from Tetun Terik, an indigenous language spoken In Timor-Leste as well as in the Belu Regency of West Timor (Indonesia); Tetun Prasa has started to develop during the Portuguese colonial times and is heavily influenced by local dialects, Portuguese and Indonesian languages. In a diverse ethnolinguistic community, Tetun is the unifying language for the Timorese. Timor Aid runs Tetun language classes since 1999 and has published a wide range of books in Tetun.

 
    The sacred mission of Timor Aid is the preservation of Tais which have been recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in December 2021. Tais still play a very significant part during cultural lifecycle rituals and in the traditional marriage ceremony, known as Barlake; Tais also have found their place on the modern, currency-based markets. The weavers of Timor-Leste have inherited their weaving skills generation after generation from their ancestors. Weaving tais, a communion with ancestral memory, upholds the status and dignity of the weavers. The Timorese ethnolinguistic communities identify themselves by the weaving techniques, motifs and colours regardless of their place of birth or life.


    Timor Aid runs its Cultural Program together with relevant partner originations to empower the weavers of Timor-Leste and to preserve valuable cultural heritage. We have longstanding relationships with the weavers of Timor-Leste and we are learning from each other.