Author: Mafwizo Mwanangombe Brooker
Editor: Aderito do Rosario da Cunha Mambares
Introduction
As we begin a new year and return to work, Oxfam in Timor-Leste teams have already packed their bags and set out to meet the people we work with, starting the year the way we always do—by listening. Our Disaster Ready and Strengthening Inclusive Community Resilience teams, with their locally led leadership approach, have travelled to Liquiça and Oe-Cusse to hear directly from communities facing challenges during this rainy season and to understand what adaptation looks like for them.
In Fatuquero, Ermera, the Climate-Smart Agriculture team is quite literally getting their hands dirty alongside farmers, helping to lay the foundation for a new information and learning centre that will serve as a hub, bringing youth from across Timor-Leste together to exchange skills and learn from one another. Meanwhile, young people in Loes are starting the year on a high note through entrepreneurial training that strengthens their future opportunities.
Across the sea, our Empower Collective Action for Equality and Inclusion team has braved rough waters to reconnect with communities in Atauro. At the same time, our CSO partners supporting program implementation have already gathered with us in Dili to plan and reflect on what organisational strengthening will look like in the months ahead. Soon, our monitoring teams will be climbing hills and mountains to find that one farmer who greets them with homegrown coffee while sharing her hopes and plans for the year.
This is the rhythm of Oxfam’s work: we go the extra mile—not figuratively, but physically—travelling to remote places, meeting people where they are, listening deeply to their lived experiences, and working with them as partners. Our role is not to reinterpret their stories, but to amplify their voices exactly as they are spoken.
At Oxfam, we believe that beyond numbers and annual plans, the most powerful evidence of impact comes from the voices of people experiencing change firsthand.
“Climate-smart farming methods gave us more than food; they gave us hope. We can sell surplus vegetables and send our children to school,” a farmer from Ermera told us. In Oe-Cusse, Savings for Change leader Lucia Timo shared, “Before joining the savings group, I could not plan beyond today. Now, I save every week and dream of buying a rice mill for our community.”
These voices do more than inspire; they orient strategy and accountability toward what matters most: people. Research reminds us why this works. Narratives foster empathy and trust (Bruner, 1991), stories paired with data explain why interventions succeed (White, 2011), and humans respond more strongly to compelling stories than to aggregated numerical figures alone (Small, Loewenstein & Slovic, 2007).
Oxfam’s Approach: Amplifying Voices, Not Replacing Them
Oxfam’s strategy is rooted in a simple but powerful principle: people are the authors of their own change.Our role is not to speak on their behalf, but to help their voices travel further—into planning sessions, donor conversations, policy discussions, and public dialogue.
We intentionally capture stories from farmers, youth, women leaders, and persons with disabilities because their reflections bring depth and meaning to the progress we see on the ground. Their lived experiences help explain why change happens, what motivates action, and what support communities need next. By amplifying these voices, Oxfam ensures that evidence of impact remains human, grounded, and accountable to the people driving transformation.
Listening First, Learning Always
Across the municipalities where Oxfam works, communities shape the narrative of change from the very beginning. Their reflections highlight the emotional, cultural, and social dimensions of development—insights that numbers alone cannot capture.
In Ermera, farmers describe pride in restored soil and renewed confidence in local markets. Youth groups talk about organic composting and water-efficient irrigation not just as techniques, but as tools for feeding families and protecting land for future generations. Savings for Change members speak of having the “power to plan beyond today,” a form of security and hope often missing from economic data.
Every story offers direction: Which interventions are building confidence? Where are barriers still felt? Which approaches are resonating most deeply? Our learning begins with listening, and our adjustments are guided by the voices of the people we work with.
Inclusion Means Being Seen and Being Heard
Inclusive programming is more than participation; it is about ensuring that people see their experiences reflected in the decisions that shape their futures. Through HAMRIIK, our inclusive community livelihoods project, women and persons with disabilities have stepped into leadership roles in livelihoods and disaster preparedness.
One participant shared, “For the first time, I feel included. I can earn an income and help my family prepare for disasters.” That single sentence tells us more about the emotional impact of inclusion than any percentage increase could. It signals belonging, dignity, and agency.
These reflections guide Oxfam in strengthening accessibility, deepening partnerships, and expanding leadership opportunities. When stories of inclusion rise to the surface, they show where progress is meaningful and where the next steps must be taken.
A Shared Call
As we enter a new period of work, Oxfam remains committed to keeping our learning human and our storytelling grounded. We pair voices with values, stories with statistics, and community experiences with actionable insights.
Our strategy is to ensure that every narrative is heard, respected, and amplified—because when people tell their own stories, they claim ownership of their progress. And when those stories guide our decisions, programs evolve into partnerships, and impact becomes a narrative that communities recognize as their own.
In the end, stories do not replace evidence; they amplify it. And when people lead the storytelling, they lead the change.
