Circles of Influence: Shaping Change Through Animation in Timor Leste

EQI partnered with The Asia Foundation to adapt the SASA! Together Circles of Influence activity into two locally-relevant animated experiences—one in English and one in Tetum. These animations bring to life the story of Betty and Joao, helping viewers understand how the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of others shape community norms and influence change. Designed for use by the Nabilan Program and Raising Voices, the animations aim to support community mobilisation efforts and prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Timor Leste.

The Challenge

Community norms—shared beliefs about acceptable behaviours—play a critical role in sustaining (or preventing) violence against women and girls (VAWG). Four gendered norms underpin VAWG globally: condoning violence against women, men’s control over decision-making and restrictions on women’s independence, aggressive male peer relations, and rigid gender roles. Changing these entrenched norms requires community-level engagement, awareness, and a clear demonstration of how individuals’ beliefs and actions influence collective behaviour. The challenge was to create an accessible, culturally relevant resource that could visually and emotionally communicate these concepts in a way that resonates with Timorese communities.

“Every day, our lives are influenced by all parts of community life: Our friends and family, other community members and leaders, and the institutions around us. Together, these form what we call our circles of influence… So how do these circles of influence shape community norms and impact our lives? Are norms fixed or can we change them?  Let’s take a look at the story of Bety and Joao.” 

The Solution

EQI developed contextually tailored animated versions of the Circles of Influence activity, working closely with Nabilan and Raising Voices. The project included:

• Script adaptation and development for Tetum and English versions
• Storyboarding and style frames to reflect local context and culture
• Stakeholder feedback integration from Nabilan, Raising Voices, and focus groups
• Voiceover, subtitling, sound design, and music in both languages
• Full animation production including pre- and post-production management
• Social media adaptations with three short 30-second–1-minute edits in both languages

The animations were crafted using simple lines, hand-drawn illustrations, pencil textures, and pared-back characters, with a soft, accessible colour palette. Visual motifs of circles, dynamic shapes, and metaphors were used to reinforce the concept of influence and connection. All actors featured were non-professional Timorese actors to ensure authenticity and relatability. The animations communicate complex ideas in a clear, engaging, and culturally relevant way, supporting both training and broader community mobilisation efforts.

The Impact

These animations provide a versatile tool for community-level violence prevention in Timor Leste, helping individuals and groups understand how their actions can influence wider societal norms. They enable training for SASA! implementing partners and can also be shared widely via social media and broadcast, extending their reach. By translating a globally recognised activity into locally relevant and accessible media, EQI and The Asia Foundation have strengthened the capacity of communities to question and shift harmful gendered norms, creating space for more equitable behaviours and ultimately reducing the risk of violence against women and girls.