Empowering Women in Balibo: 2024 Royce & Jean Abbey Scholar – Angela “Ella” Soares

For over a decade, the Rotary Club of Keilor East has been a key partner in supporting community development initiatives in Balibo, Timor-Leste. Through collaboration with the Balibo 5 Community Learning Centre (CLC), the Balibo Community Health Centre, and Days for Girls (DfG) Australia, programs have been developed to provide education, practical skills, and economic opportunity — particularly for women and girls.

In 2017, a Days for Girls Memorandum of Understanding formalised this collaboration, ensuring women and girls in the Balibo region could access menstrual health education and reusable hygiene kits. This partnership later led to the establishment of the Balibo Women’s Centre (BWC), officially opened in May 2023. The Centre provides a safe space for women to gain skills, confidence, independence, and community support — a vital resource in a region still recovering from conflict and where gender-based violence and inequality remain significant challenges.

A Scholarship Supporting Local Leadership

In July 2024, Ella Soares, Sewing Coordinator at the Balibo Women’s Centre, travelled to Melbourne as the recipient of the Royce & Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship. Her purpose was focused, practical, and deeply impactful: to strengthen her sewing and pattern-making skills and learn to produce Days for Girls (DfG) reusable menstruation kits to support women and girls in her community.

Ella was hosted and supported by the Rotary Club of East Keilor and a network of Rotarians and DfG volunteers who generously shared their time, skills, and mentoring. Over several weeks, Ella trained in:

• Sewing machine and overlocker skill development

• Pattern making and fabric preparation

• Quality assurance for DfG “gold standard” kits

• Teaching and group facilitation techniques

• Basic small enterprise administration.

“This scholarship means that women in Balibo can learn, work, earn, and support each other,” Ella shared. “We are building confidence, health, and opportunity for our community.”

Bringing Skills Home to Create Change

Back in Balibo, Ella coordinates a women’s sewing cooperative that meets weekly. The group has already produced:

• Curtains for classrooms

• Privacy screens for medical clinics

• Baby packs for new mothers

• Clothing and community textiles.

Now, with her expanded training, Ella is leading the group to produce high-quality reusable menstrual hygiene kits. These kits are distributed through school awareness programs that provide practical health education, help reduce stigma, and ensure girls can continue attending school with confidence.

Women involved in the sewing group receive a small but meaningful income, building economic independence and strengthening family livelihoods.

A Model for Sustainable Community Enterprise

The goal is to continue developing the sewing program into a replicable social enterprise model that can be used in other remote communities across Timor-Leste — multiplying the impact.

Rotary Support Making a Lasting Difference

Ella’s scholarship is a powerful example of how the Royce & Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship equips emerging leaders in developing nations with practical skills that create long-term community benefit.

We extend our thanks to:

• Rotary Club of East Keilor

• Days for Girls Essendon Team

• Balibo House Trust partners and community leaders.

Ella returned home not only with new skills — but with a sustainable program that continues to grow opportunity, dignity, and hope.

To learn more about the Royce and Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship or to make an initial application, please visit: royceabbey.com