THE CONCEPT
Spinning Dreams Timor-Leste (2010) is Gone Cyclin’s first project.
The concept behind the project is to undertake a physically and mentally gruelling challenge to raise awareness for a sustainable social cause and thereby make a positive impact on society.
Our team will be participating in the second Tour de Timor competition from 13-17th September 2010 in Timor-Leste (East Timor) to:
- Support East Timor - a young, developing country and democracy emerging out of a violent past
- Raise awareness and SGD 50,000 of funds for Timor Aid - a NGO based in Timor-Leste
- Inspire young people to take on their own challenges to make a positive impact on society
THE BENEFICIARY - HOW CAN YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The contributions and funds raised through Spinning Dreams Timor-Leste will go specifically towards Timor Aid's Working with Weavers Project - a long-term project in which Timor Aid will work with weavers and craft workers of Timor-Leste to continue their craft, expand their livelihood options and preserve their cultural heritage.
This includes:
- Training weavers (who are mostly women) in literacy and recording the stories associated with their traditional cloths
- Working with weavers to revitalise the standards of the cloths they produce
- Teaching weavers numeracy skills, basic business management and to understand markets
- Steps towards the development of a major promotion, exhibition and educational centre in Timor-Leste to engender pride in the tradition and share it with the outside world.
Working with Weavers will benefit both the weavers and their families by increasing education, providing more sustainable pathways for income and enhancing the status of women in their communities. At a broader level, the project will ensure an increased understanding of Timor-Leste’s important textile heritage and contribute to the development of the nation’s tourism and economic development sector.
The overall objective of this project is to reduce poverty in rural Timor-Leste in a sustainable manner through the promotion of weaving as an income generating activity. It will contribute, along with other initiatives, to a situation where a sustainable cottage industry is operating, and an understanding of and access to the market for the products of this industry has been stabilised.
To make a contribution, click here