Now water is always near us. We don’t spend our days searching for it anymore — we can focus on our farms, our families, and our future.
Life Before Clean Water
Kornelia “Korrie” Kolo (43) has lived in the rural community of Halle in Oecusse, Timor-Leste for 25 years. Like her neighbours, she spent years struggling to access clean water. Rainwater supplies ran out by October each year, forcing families to walk long distances to muddy wells, even during the dry season.
Water collection was time-consuming, physically demanding, and often unsafe. Despite sharing limited supplies peacefully, the lack of reliable water made daily life and farming increasingly difficult.
A Community-Led Solution
Through Oxfam Aotearoa’s HAMRIIK project, implemented with local partner A-FFOS, Kornelia and her neighbours worked together to build a large concrete water tank, connected by pipes directly to their homes. Each household now has its own tap just metres from their door.
Community members contributed their own labour to the project, digging and constructing the tank together. The system was completed in early 2024 and is now the community’s main source of clean water.
Through Oxfam Aotearoa’s HAMRIIK project, implemented with local partner A-FFOS, Kornelia and her neighbours worked together to build a large concrete water tank, connected by pipes directly to their homes. Each household now has its own tap just metres from their door.
Community members contributed their own labour to the project, digging and constructing the tank together. The system was completed in early 2024 and is now the community’s main source of clean water.
Building Climate Resilience
Beyond water access, Kornelia also took part in climate adaptation training. With support from Oxfam partners, the community built rainwater reservoirs upstream and learned terracing techniques using A-frames to prevent soil erosion and conserve water.
These climate-smart practices allow families to better manage rainfall, protect their land, and prepare for longer dry seasons.
More Time, Better Livelihoods
With water now close to home, Kornelia no longer spends hours collecting it. The time saved means she can focus on farming, growing vegetables, tending fruit trees, and harvesting coffee, corn, and betel nut to sell at the market.
Reliable water has improved household health, increased income opportunities, and made daily life safer, even at night.
Lasting Impact
The HAMRIIK project supports 650 vulnerable households across Oecusse and Liquiça, promoting sustainable land use, water conservation, and climate-smart agriculture.
For Kornelia and her community, access to clean water has unlocked far more than convenience, it has created space to plan, plant, and build a more secure future.
Lasting Impact
The HAMRIIK project supports 650 vulnerable households across Oecusse and Liquiça, promoting sustainable land use, water conservation, and climate-smart agriculture.
For Kornelia and her community, access to clean water has unlocked far more than convenience, it has created space to plan, plant, and build a more secure future.
