Regional/Cultural Day
Dia Mundial da Água
In a nation where access to clean water remains a daily struggle, this day carries particular weight. Communities along the coast hold awareness events about protecting the coral reefs that are the nurseries of Timor's marine food supply. Timor-Leste has some of the most biodiverse coral reefs on Earth : over 400 species of reef-building corals, rivaling the Great Barrier Reef. Yet most Timorese can't swim. The ocean is both provider and mystery, feeding villages daily while remaining culturally forbidden to many women.