In a small village in Liquicá Municipality, a young woman named Tania is preparing for her future with newfound confidence. Like many young women in rural Timor-Leste, Tania once believed that conversations about family planning were only for adults or health workers. But that changed when she started listening to a radio programme produced by UNFPA and distributed through the Timor-Leste Journalists Association (AJTL) via Community Radio Tokodede. The stories, voices, and discussions she heard on the radio opened her mind to new possibilities, how knowledge can empower her to make informed decisions when the time comes to start her own family.
Curious to learn more, Tania joined a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by AJTL with support from UNFPA in Suku Dato, Liquicá. Surrounded by other young people, she eagerly shared her experiences and reflections from the radio programme. “This discussion was really interesting and helped me understand more about family planning,” Tania said. “But I asked whether it is only possible to do this in towns, or also in rural areas like ours.”
She recalled stories she had heard from the radio and from her own mother, stories about women who gave birth at home and faced life-threatening complications. “I heard one case that was really traumatic,” she shared softly. “Other mothers also had difficulties because they delivered at home and had to walk long distances to reach health facilities. Many do not realize that giving birth at home carries serious risks for both mother and baby. That’s why I always tell other women that health facilities are the safest place to give birth.”
From the discussion, family planning stood out as the topic that resonated most deeply with Tania. As a young woman, she found it empowering to learn how planning ahead can protect both mothers and children. “From this discussion, I gained information that helps me understand that when I start a family, I can plan together with my partner, promoting at least three years of birth spacing,” she said proudly. “It brings so many benefits—not only for our health, but also for education and the family’s economy.
