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... to live everyday.
Petrustani and Maria Joana sell kangkung everyday for a living. Even though this lifestyle is conducted in a hazardous environment, they have no alternative.
We spend $10 to buy kangkung, and then we bunch them up to be sold in the Hali Laran market. If we are lucky, we can make around $5 or $7.
ThatÕs if the price of kangkung is favourable. If not, maybe we can only get back the money we paid to buy the kangkung.
If you donÕt do it, then thereÕs no other way. Even after we are independent, itÕs not much different.
ItÕs other peoples who come to work. But when we the East Timorese want to work, they would ask us for papers.
They only make enough money to cover for their daily needs.
Just enough to live on. Even if I only make $3 or $4 a day, the most important thing is that I get to have lunch and dinner. ThatÕs enough.
ItÕs better than begging, and who would want to give you anything? ItÕs not that easy. So as a human being, you have to work.
There isnÕt anyone who doesnÕt work. Even if itÕs just a little, you have to work.
The low household income is forcing their children to forfeit their rights as children. They have to wash cars in order to survive.
If I were the minister, if I were the president, there would be less poverty. But whatÕs the reality?
The reality is that today the people of Timor are becoming increasingly poorer.
Those who have the capacity can send their children to school. But if you donÕt have it, your children would stop school. This is the reality.
Those who have no capacity, their children can go and wash cars, they can sell eggs, because they need to survive. 16 00:01:34,00 --> The number of people in poverty is growing, but the people of Timor-Leste continue to place their hopes in the government to reduce poverty.