Diocese of Atambua, local government, and indigenous communities collaborate on social-pastoral and ecological issues

The Diocese of Atambua, the Belu Regional Government, and various indigenous communities are developing a strategic collaboration to address social, pastoral, and ecological challenges. This effort follows a series of panel discussions held in Kewar, Bauho, Lasiolat, Mandeu, Naitimu, and Lidak.

The discussions brought together indigenous leaders, community members, youth, women, cultural observers, academics, and various stakeholders. Participants proposed revitalizing the role of indigenous institutions to serve as partners for the government and the Church to support community development.

The collaboration seeks to address poverty, family problems, land conflicts, shifting cultural values, and environmental degradation. According to the Diocese of Atambua, the participants identified the Ema Belu spirit, a collective awareness of identity and shared responsibility, as a social asset to help the community manage these changes while preserving cultural heritage.