ACbit – Chega! Ba Ita Learning from the Past, for A Better Future
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One important mission of ACbit is to disseminate the Chega! Report from the Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation, commonly known by its Portuques acronym CAVR to communities in order to strengthen collective commitment to preventing human rights violations being repeated.
To reinforce its commitment to this mission, ACbit organized the Chega! Mobile Exhibition in schools across several municipalities, inviting survivors to directly share their painful experiences from the past conflict with students, so they can learn and reflect, ensuring such human rights violations are not repeated in the future.
From mid-2024 to 2025, ACbit has carried out the Chega! Mobile Exhibition in 8 schools in three municipalities: Baucau, Atauro, and Ermera, reaching a total of 444 students.
The students showed great enthusiasm and appreciation in learning about the history of conflict in Timor-Leste, especially the untold stories of survivors whose experiences are often missing from the official historical narrative.
Deonisia Soares, a student from 99 Secondary School in Atauro, said, “This exhibition helped me understand the history of the conflict in Timor-Leste, and the consequences of war for vulnerable people – especially women, who not only suffered but also contributed to the struggle for independence, though their history are not recognized as other heroes.”
“This history is part of our identity. It is essential for us, the younger generation, to learn about it so we can value and honour all those who sacrificed their lives for our independence.” Stated by Flavia D. Menezes, a student from ESTV Cabo Martinho Guisarudo School in Ermera municipality.
The exhibition engaged not only students but also survivors and their families, along with teachers. Pe. Aderito M. E. V. da Costa, SDB, Director of ESSA Baucau School, stated, “We truly appreciate this exhibition initiative by ACbit, because it helps students learn history from a human perspective—guiding them to value humanity, and to avoid any inhumane acts or resorting to violence in their lives.”
This activity is support by MISEREOR which will continue to be implemented in schools in other municipalities, to disseminate the recommendations of the Chega! Report to the new generation, to ensure that human rights violations do not occur in the future.
