The Alola Foundation is a not-for-profit non-government organisation seeking to nurture women leaders and advocate for the rights of women. 
The Alola Foundation was originally created to raise awareness of widespread sexual violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste during the militia attacks of September 1999.
Though sexual violence is still a key issue for the Foundation, today Alola’s work is organised under four pillars, covering maternal and child health; education and literacy; advocacy; and economic development.The Alola Foundation was established in 2001 by Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the former First Lady of Timor-Leste. The initial focus of the Alola Foundation was to raise awareness and campaign against sexual and gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
Due to Timor-Leste‘s lack of legal infrastructure back in 2001, the Alola Foundation was established as a company limited by guarantee, Alola Foundation Ltd, under Australian law. However, we’re proud to say that in 2008, the Alola Foundation became the first organization to register as an NGO in Timor-Leste and is known by its Tetum name, “Fundasaun Alola”.