Alberto’s mission to empower his community

BAUCAU, Timor-Leste (ILO News) - Alberto Guterres, 39 years old, a trainer from Viqueque, Timor-Leste, has always believed in the power of farming to change lives. However, he often saw farmers struggling—wasting valuable coconut byproducts, selling raw coconuts at low prices, and lacking knowledge of sustainable farming practices.

Determined to make a difference, Alberto joined the Training of Trainers (ToT) on Coconut Oil, Feedstock, and Organic Fertilizer conducted from 11-14 February 2025, not just to improve his own skills, but to bring real change to his community.

Through the training, Alberto has gained technical knowledge and leadership skills that will allow him to extract high-quality virgin coconut oil (VCO) and teach others to produce and sell it, turn coconut waste into animal feed and organic fertilizer to reduce farm waste and train farmers on sustainable and profitable coconut processing techniques.

© ILO

Alberto Guterres, a trainer from Viqueque, Timor-Leste. 2/2025

After completing the training, Alberto won’t just keep his skills to himself. He will train and helping farmers in the village learn better ways to use coconuts, increase their incomes, and create more sustainable farming systems. His plan includes organizing community training sessions for group of cooperative, farmers and youth as well as advocating for sustainable agricultural practices that improve both livelihoods and the environment

 “I am not just learning for myself. I am learning for my community. I want to help others see that coconuts can be more than just a plant—they can be a source of opportunity,” said Alberto Guterres. He also appreciated the Agroforestry Skills Project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), for the opportunity to receive this training.

With trainers like Alberto stepping up, Timor-Leste’s coconut farmers are on the path to a more profitable and sustainable future. The knowledge he shares will empower many others to transform their farms and improve their lives.