ASSERT is an East Timorese NGO, established in partnership with the Cambodia Trust.
Timor Leste is one of the youngest nations on earth. As it begins its recovery from its occupation and subsequent destruction, it is rebuilding infrastructure, health and social services, education and government.
The fledgling Government is keen to uphold and promote human rights, and to ensure that disabled people are included in every aspect of society, rather than being pushed to the edges of society, as they are now.
However, there is little local expertise and few services exist for disabled people. Many disabled people living in rural areas cannot even access primary health care.
The Cambodia Trust, in partnership with local NGOs, organisations representing disabled people and community groups, has established ASSERT, an East Timorese NGO. Through the ASSERT partnership project, we:
- Have established Timor Leste's first rehabilitation centre offering physical rehabilitation (prosthetic limbs, orthopaedic braces, wheelchairs, mobility aids and physiotherapy) - the Timor Loro Sa'e Centre for Physical Rehabilitation.
- Are training local staff in specialist skills such as prosthetics, orthotics and physiotherapy.
- Have helped to established a local organization to coordinate services for disabled people.
- Have worked to increase the inclusion of disabled people in education, training and poverty reduction projects.
- Have formulated an action plan in line with Government aspirations for the provision of services for disabled people.
After several years 
of planning, the Timor Loro Sa'e Centre for Physical Rehabilitation opened in April 2005. The Cambodia Trust facilitated, managed and developed the rehabilitation centre, based on the model of our rehabilitation centres in Cambodia, while training local staff to take over the running of the project. ASSERT was subsequently handed over to its local board in June 2009.
