‘Becoming a good driver is not easy’
Julio from Timor-Leste has seen a lot in the last 17 years, but staying safe on the road remains his priority
You’ll usually find Julio Filomeno Brites on a winding road in the mountains of Timor-Leste, crossing bridges, driving through stunning scenery and making sure that everyone reaches their final destination safely.
Julio is a man with big, contagious smiles but few words. He has worked for the World Food Programme for 17 years — an amazing achievement, considering that WFP has operated in Timor-Leste for 20 years.
His work has taken him across the country, and he has seen this young nation change from his front-row seat. As WFP’s longest serving staff member in Timor-Leste, Julio has kept WFP staff safe through independence, conflict and the nation’s transition into peace, so they can reach families even in the most remote parts of the country.
“I started working at WFP when I was 42 years old as an office driver. I worked briefly with WFP from December 1999 to May 2002 for emergency relief, and then started working with WFP again when they reopened their operations in October 2003. At that time WFP was engaged in providing food aid to people displaced by conflict throughout Timor-Leste.”
After the country gained independence, Julio re-joined WFP in 2003. At that time, amidst civil conflict, women aid workers faced particular challenges and were concerned about their safety. Julio and his fellow drivers made sure that female staff at WFP were given enough protection on their way to and from work.
“At that time it was our priority to make sure that female colleagues were free from harassment on the streets and they felt safe enough to come to work every day. I got all the drivers together and we came up with ideas on how to keep them safe.”
Julio’s commitment to safety isn’t just limited to when he’s behind the wheel. He’s interested in constantly learning new skills, including first aid through training courses offered by WFP.
“Driving carefully and arriving safely is our main objective. Becoming a good driver is not easy — you need to constantly learn new things and keep vigilant at all times.”
Thank you, Julio, for your hard work and commitment to WFP’s mission and the women and children of Timor-Leste!
Read more about WFP’s work in Timor-Leste.
