Project Leader Biographies: Ba Futuru
Joana dos Santos Camoes (in photo with child projection staff), Ba Futuru Timorese Director and Program Manager, has a good grasp of the English language as well as years of experience as an English Teacher, childcare assistant and guidance counselor previous to assisting with the creation of Ba Futuru in 2004. Ms. Camoes has developed her expertise in the areas of human rights based programming and positive discipline strategies in an effort to combat the predominant use of violence against children in Timor-Leste. She has attended various training programs and overseas conferences to further develop her capacity including the International Conference on Gross National Happiness in Nongkhai and Bangkok, Thailand; a Community Organizing Course in Bali, Indonesia; a dispute resoluation conference in Victoria, Canada; and an on-line Human Rights Based Programming Course sponsored by the UNDP.
Sierra James, Ba Futuru’s American Co-Founder and Program Manager, has four years of peace building experience in Timor-Leste and Masters from the School of International and Public Affairs from Columbia University where she focused on conflict resolution and post-conflict education. Ms. James has significant international program management and training experience, including organizing events or trainings in South Africa, Colombia, South Korea and Australia. She was involved with Columbia University's conflict prevention projects in Timor-Leste prior to her founding of Ba Futuru. She has successfully development therapeutic conflict resolution and peace education materials for children, women, youth and community leaders together with Ba Futuru’s Timorese staff, which are both culturally appropriate and to an international standard.
Juliana de Oliveira Marcal (in photo with kids at prison), who goes by 'Lica', is Ba Futuru’s Timorese Psychosocial Support Project Coordinator. She has three years of experience assisting with peacebuilding project facilitation across Timor-Leste with Ba Futuru as well as prior work experience with Plan International, the World Food Program and UNHCR. She also has academic experience in counseling and trauma recovery as well as agriculture and research. Ms. Marcal is an exceptional facilitator and team leader as well as highly skilled at engaging community leaders around gender equality and human rights issues.
Vidal Campos Magno, Ba Futuru’s Youth Development Initiative Project Coordinator, comes to Ba Futuru with four years of conflict resolution facilitation experience as well as academic experience in Australia and Timor-Leste. He has also attended multiple peace conferences in the United States. Mr. Magno is a dynamic facilitator of conflict resolution, civic education, human rights and peace building successfully engaging a range of participants including: at-risk children and youth, young people in prison, teachers, community leaders and Internally Displaced Persons living in camps. He is also musically talented and inspiring for people of all ages.