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A Voice for all East Timorese Women: Enhancing Women’s Participation and Leadership through Theatre

Country: Timor-Leste

Partner: Women’s Development through the Arts (DAMA)

In times of crisis, women and men experience different impacts, and women often play a significant yet largely unrecognised role in peace-building at community level. Despite this important role, women are often excluded from formal participation and leadership in decision-making. DAMA (Women’s Development through the Arts) is Timor Leste’s first national women’s theatre group, and emerged to address women’s exclusion from decision-making. This group was established through the women of national theatre troupe Bibi Bulak, with support from IWDA and funding from the Office for Women.

DAMA has conducted theatre performances and workshops in rural communities on the subject of women’s participation in decision-making and leadership. In 2008 the group travelled to the communities engaged in GFFTL’s literacy program in Baucau, Lospalos and Viqueque, to present their performance and discuss the issues it raises with the communities. As theatre in East Timor is one of the most successful means of public education, DAMA is an important agent in addressing issues of women’s rights and gender inequality in an accessible and entertaining way.

DAMA Performers

Project Objectives

- To empower women in DAMA and in the target audience groups in participation and leadership activities.

- To provide the opportunity for women to share information and experiences.

- To provide entertainment as a form of relief from daily hardships, to boost community morale and provide inspiration.

- To strengthen the relationships between women’s group in East Timor, particularly among IWDA’s partner network.

This is funded by IWDA Supporters and the Office for Women
-last updated 25/02/09

Tags: Bibi Bulak, DAMA, East Timor, GFFTL, Safety and Security, Theatre
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