Support disability inclusive livelihoods and strengthen social enterprise in Timor Leste

Nazareth Foundation is a Timorese social enterprise dedicated to empowering people with disabilities, orphans, and widows through training, employment, and small business development. By helping individuals gain skills and independence, the Foundation creates pathways out of poverty and promotes dignity, equality, and community participation.

The Foundation, through Palms International Volunteering, is seeking a Small Business & Disability Inclusion Mentor to strengthen staff capacity, support enterprise operations, and help disadvantaged people build sustainable livelihoods.

What you’ll do

First several weeks – Learn, observe, and build trust

• Learn Tetun, local customs, and organisational culture with support from a local mentor.
• Observe existing systems 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 – Build capacity and strengthen enterprise operations

• Promote the dignity, rights, and equality of people with disabilities.
• Support a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment for disadvantaged community members.
• Strengthen confidence and self esteem by helping individuals recognise their abilities and talents.
• Support access to non formal education, health care, and community participation.
• Mentor staff and trainees to build skills in small business operations, including: o basic bookkeeping (Excel) o marketing and promotion o project management o customer engagement
• Help disadvantaged people become more self sufficient by supporting pathways to employment or small business creation.
• Encourage active participation in community life and local economic activities.

What you’ll bring

• Experience or qualifications in small business administration.
• Bookkeeping skills (Excel essential; other accounting software desirable).
• Marketing and promotion experience.
• Strong communication, networking, and time management skills.
• Project management capability.
• Understanding of rights based approaches to disability inclusion.
• Flexibility, patience, cultural sensitivity, and willingness to learn Tetun.
• Commitment to serve for 12 months with limited resources.

What you’ll gain

• Deep cultural immersion in Timor Leste’s capital city.
• The opportunity to strengthen a social enterprise that directly supports people with disabilities.
• Professional experience in cross cultural mentoring, small business development, and disability inclusion.
• Contribution to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).

About Nazareth Foundation Founded in 2014 by Timorese leaders, the Nazareth Foundation provides training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, widows, and orphans. Its social enterprises include fuel efficient cookstoves, pre cast building materials, affordable water filters, and metal fabrication. Profits are reinvested into programs that support disability inclusion and rural development. Your contribution will help expand opportunities for some of Timor Leste’s most marginalised community members.

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.