Born and raised in East Timor, Rosaria has dedicated her life to help the socially disadvantaged and the poorest of the poor. As a young girl she was disturbed by the injustices and violence she was surrounded by as a result of the conflict in the region, and there began a career in public health. She has worked in a private clinic in Dare, with the Christian Brothers at the Edmund Rise Centre, as a doctor with the International Force (Interfet) in Timor Leste, and as a volunteer for the Dili National Hospital. In 2004, Rosaria established HIAM Health – HIAM standing for “hamutuk ita ajuda malu” or “together we help each other” – working with the people of Timor Leste to reduce high infant and maternal mortality rates and to alleviate the problems created by long-term hunger and malnutrition.