My father worked as a farmer, and my mother as a tailor. My mother and father would work so hard to make the money needed to support my eight brothers and sisters and me, mainly to ensure we all had adequate education. Even when I was really young, I learned so much from them, including the importance of working hard, not just to support myself but also my family and community, and to contribute to the development of my nation.
To bring change to my community and country, my first focus was on water. Look at the reality of the situation in Timor-Leste, and you’ll see some communities still do not have access to clean water. Some have to walk long distances to find clean water. Others even continue to use traditional toilets by digging holes and placing rocks to sit on, as they need to save water for only the most essential use. Even in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, 50% of the households in the community do not have water purifiers. My father and mother also had to walk long distances for clean water.
After thinking about what I could do to help East Timor with its water problems, I decided to start a business. I got this opportunity thanks to domestic and international sponsors, Wise Foundation, and the United Nations Program Development (UNDP). They organized a competition for all the youth in East Timor, and I was the fortunate one to win.
That’s how my business started, and now we deal with all aspects of drinking water. We supply high-quality water for a low price the community can buy. In the future, I want to cooperate with the government to handle wastewater and make a store with water every household can use.
My dream is to see the world become a healthier place where there are no more communities crying out for clean water. I will never forget my parents telling me to keep working hard. My business has just begun as I head toward this dream, but I will keep going for the sake of Timor-Leste and the world.