Dili, 10 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – Monteiro Guterres 44 age, from Viqueque Municipality, Watulari Administrative Post, was born on June 7, 1982, currently living in Caicoli, currently looking for a living on the roadside through Shoes Tribe since 2008.
João Monteiro said he started his studies at 4 de Setembru Primary School in Viqueque in 1993, finished primary school in 1996, but didn’t continue to pre-secondary level because his parents left him and his siblings, and as the eldest, he became the father figure to his 5 siblings, a big responsibility for the family.
“I’m sad when I remember my parents left me at 17 years old, even though I was still young, I had to make a decision to work to respond to daily needs. When I looked for work in the mountains, I didn’t feel it was enough, so I decided to look for a living in Dili city in 2008, because I learned to beg from friends, from the experiences I had, I decided to implement it myself to earn money on the streets, to respond to family needs.” says João Monteiro at the merkado Lama.
“I’m sad when I remember my parents left me at 17, even though I was still young, I had to make a decision to work to respond to daily needs. When I looked for work in the mountains, I didn’t feel it was enough, so I decided to look for a living in Dili city in 2008, because I learned to beg from friends, from the experiences I had, I decided to implement it myself to earn money on the streets, to respond to family needs.” says João Monteiro at the Merkado Lama
He further states that earning money isn’t easy, but he keeps trying to survive and gets some food to complete family needs, and his daily activity is begging from clients.
“I don’t want to beg from people, but I try hard to look after my siblings, living as a poor orphan, feeling everything is lost, but with a hardworking spirit and effort, I take on this big responsibility. Each shoe is $2, depends on people, but daily income isn’t much, sometimes $5, on good days up to $60, from that income I sustain daily needs.” He explains
He further informs that shoe polishing on the street is a small business to complete living needs, it’s a good opportunity because it’s a place with lots of people, can get some income, and he also has initiatives to promote on social media to attract customers. Besides that, needs to be managed well.
Report By: Trainees Leozalia Cabral and Novita Soares
Photo By: Trainees Leozalia Cabral and Novita Soares