In a remote village in Timor, Indonesia, Yuliana’s story is not uncommon for many families living in extreme poverty.

Her home, constructed from wood and palm fronds, sits on a dirt floor. With no stove inside, cooking is done over an open fire outside. The windows are covered with cloth to shield her family from the heat, and meals often consist of little more than rice and corn.

For years, Yuliana worked as a labourer in rice fields, earning less than AU$18 a week. With limited education and few opportunities, she struggled to provide for her children. Malnutrition was common in her village, and access to healthcare was minimal, with the nearest hospital around 45 kilometres away.

But change is underway. Yuliana is now part of a community-led initiative called Resilient Villages, a program developed by Opportunity International Australia and its local partners. The program is designed to support communities that are not yet ready to access a small loan to grow their business, by helping them build the foundational skills and resources needed for long-term development.

Supporting women and families as a village

Resilient Villages focuses on three key areas: nutrition, income generation and adapting to disasters and changes in climate. Families learn how to grow vegetables to improve their diets, and expectant mothers receive chickens to provide eggs, as an important source of protein for growing children. These basic interventions address chronic malnutrition and help children develop physically and cognitively.

Yuliana’s village has also begun cultivating crops like corn and vegetables not just for personal consumption, but for sale. Through partnerships with local universities and agricultural organisations, villagers are trained in sustainable farming practices and connected with buyers in nearby communities. This shift from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture is creating new income streams and improving food security.

Changes to the village benefit the whole village

Women like Yuliana are taking on leadership roles, participating in financial planning discussions and helping organise community efforts. As their income grows, villages reinvest in essential infrastructure such as clean water, toilets and health education. They also prepare for natural disasters, building resilience against future shocks.

After a few years taking part in the program, the impact is starting to show. Children are healthier and more likely to attend school. Families have more stable incomes. And women, once limited by circumstance, are now shaping the future of their communities.

Yuliana’s personal goal is clear: “I want my daughter to go to high school. To have a better life than this.” Her personal story shows how targeted, community-driven development can create lasting change, not just for individuals, but for entire villages.

Resilient Villages is one example of how an integrated approach to poverty alleviation – beyond just a small loan – can empower communities from the ground up. By addressing health, education and economic inclusion together, programs like this help break the cycle of poverty and build a foundation for sustainable growth.

In Yuliana’s village, the seeds of change have been planted — literally. And as the community continues to grow stronger, her story offers a glimpse into what’s possible when the right tools are put into the hands of women, and programs build knowledge, collaboration and a village-based model of development.

To find out more about Yuliana’s village, please take a look at our 2025 Christmas appeal.