Help strengthen food security and climate smart farming in rural Timor Leste

Ainaro Parish, through Palms International Volunteering, is seeking an Agriculture/Farming Mentor to build the skills and confidence of local farm workers and community farmers. Your mentoring will help transform parish farmland into a reliable, year round source of nutritious food for kindergarten students and 40 student boarders who rely on the parish feeding program. This role is ideal for someone passionate about sustainable agriculture, hands on training, and community driven development.

What you’ll do

First several weeks – Learn, observe, and build trust

• Learn local language, cultural norms, and farming context with support from a local mentor.
• Observe existing practices and document strengths and community assets.
• Avoid recommending changes during this period; focus on understanding why things are done the way they are.

Ongoing responsibilities

• Provide hands on mentoring in soil preparation, planting, irrigation, composting, pest management, and harvesting.
• Introduce climate appropriate, sustainable farming techniques.
• Develop simple plans for year round production, crop rotation, and water efficient practices.
• Strengthen farm management systems including record keeping, crop planning, and yield monitoring.
• Support nutrition goals by planning crop varieties that ensure a steady supply of vegetables and staple foods.

What you’ll bring

• Qualifications in Agribusiness, Agriculture, or Rural Development.
• Experience guiding farmers in improving productivity and diversifying crops.
• Knowledge of climate smart and sustainable farming practices.
• Training and mentoring skills.
• Patience, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity.
• Commitment to serve for 12 months with limited resources.

What you’ll gain

• Deep cultural immersion in the mountains of Timor Leste.
• The opportunity to strengthen food security for children and families.
• Professional experience in cross cultural agricultural development.
• Contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 17 (Partnerships).

About Ainaro Catholic Parish Ainaro Catholic Parish, home to the Igreja Nossa Senhora de Fátima, stands as an important spiritual and cultural landmark in the mountainous region of Ainaro.

About Palms International Volunteering For 65 years, Palms International Volunteering has supported skilled Australians to live and work alongside communities in the Asia-Pacific. Our volunteers don’t ‘fix’ problem - they build relationships, strengthen local capacity, and walk with communities striving for dignity and opportunity. These are ‘solidarity placements’. Accommodation and a small stipend is provided, as well as preparation and ongoing support.

The focus is on living as a true neighbour to learn, and to establish an effective mentoring role. This is the basis for lasting capacity building in the community. It is also a chance for you to step out of the rush and reconnect with what matters through a deep cultural immersion and genuine community relationships.