Holarua UN Peace Project

The Problem
Timor-Leste, a resource scarce country in Southeast Asia, faces brutal dry seasons, with rising temperatures due to climate change. Most families rely on subsistence farming, but overexposure to sun destroys crops and reduces food security. With over 30% of the country’s GDP tied to agriculture, a scalable solution was critical.

What is it?
A sustainable agricultural solution designed for Holarua, Timor-Leste, aimed at protecting crops from extreme sun exposure. Our team designed and prototyped a retractable shading structure to reduce crop heat stress and improve food yield in a climate-vulnerable region.

Our Solution
We created a low-cost, retractable sunshade built from local materials (except the shade mesh). The system allows 30–70% light modulation, depending on the crop’s needs. Farmers can pull the shading cover during peak heat and retract it when full sun or rain is desired.

Easy to install and maintain
Designed for community independence
Costs just ~$18 CAD per 1x2m plot
Durable: lasts over 6 years with minimal upkeep

The Process
We explored three concepts: solar + mist cooling, white gravel for surface cooling, and shade nets. After evaluating cost, feasibility, and impact, the shade netting system was chosen. It balanced effectiveness, affordability, and ease of use. The final design was implemented with community participation and can be scaled by locals without engineers.

Outcome
We presented this project to a panel of judges as part of the Engineers Without Borders Challenge and won first place. The solution was praised for being culturally sensitive, technically sound, and economically viable for rural communities in Southeast Asia.