Promoting healthy eating and nutrition

Having participated in a few events held by UNDP, Elvi knew that UNDP could help her create and develop her entrepreneurship skills

June 28, 2018

Elvi now has some regular customers and is looking forward to developing her business further

Rosalia Elvi Merdiyana Jose Trindade is a 22-year-old entrepreneur.

In 2017, Elvi attended a Social Business Camp hosted by UNDP’s Knua Juventude Fila-Liman (KJFL), where she learnt necessary skills for youth who wish to start their own business. Since then, Elvi has participated in many events hosted at the KJFL Centre. After working and volunteering at various organisations, Elvi couldn’t help but wish she could become her own boss.

Although I think it is very hard for youth of Timor-Leste to start their own business, I carry with me the wisdom of Muhammad Yunus. He says to wake up in the morning and say, ‘I am a job-creator, not a job seeker’. I decided that the best thing for me to do is to become a job-creator,’ she says.

In 2013, Elvi worked as a nutrition consultant for ‘Youth for National Development’ and started to develop an understanding of how Timorese youth view nutrition. In Timor-Leste, traditional food habits and common snacks are usually fried foods and sugary sweets. However, Elvi noticed that more and more Timorese people commonly exercise and are generally interested in maintaining their fitness. Elvi also noticed the lack of diversity in foods sold at local kiosks and vendors. She decided that her business should help the community to increase their knowledge about healthy eating habits and nutrition.

In the afternoons, I see a lot of people running and jogging to the top of Cristo Rei, and I know that these people are health conscious. I wanted to help Timorese people understand how to eat for their health too.’ She comments

Having participated in a few events held by UNDP, Elvi knew that UNDP could help her create and develop her entrepreneurship skills. The Knua Juventude Fila-Liman Centre was launched on 16 August 2017 which enabled Elvi to receive support and advice.

The Knua Centre provides regular trainings and business camps for aspiring entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste. Elvi developed her business alongside the staff and junior business trainers at the Knua Centre. After mapping her business canvas and plan at the Knua Centre, she opened a small shop where she sells fresh fruit salad, shakes and juices.

The Knua Centre also provides Elvi with a social link between entrepreneurs. Social business networking events run at the Knua Centre linked Elvi to other entrepreneurs who helped her develop her business. These people contributed with services such as financial support and helped her to set up finance schemes to help with initial business costs. Elvi also learnt valuable business skills, such as how to market her products for the public.

It is important for youth to come to the Knua Centre so that they can receive information about starting your own business. For youth in Timor-Leste, it is hard to motivate yourself. However, at Knua you feel supported. All the information you need is there, and people are willing to help you.’ She says.

Elvi wants to inspire other youth to start their own business’ too. Having encountered difficulties along the way, Elvi knows that it is not easy to start your own business. However, she is positive that youth in Timor-Leste should contribute to the Nations development. Elvi now has some regular customers and is looking forward to developing her business further. Her aim is to keep increasing sales, so she can employ more people in the future.

It makes me feel good to get up and do something. I know that I need to work hard, not only for myself, but for the development of Timor-Leste,’ she comments.