In many communities, ETAN members have come together to form local chapters. Chapter members decide to work together, on an ongoing basis, to educate their community about East Timor. ETAN currently has fifteen active chapters around the country. A chapter should include at least five committed people. Chapters receive priority services from National ETAN, discounts on books and other resources, and participation in ETAN national strategy decisions.
Some chapters are city-based, while others are formed at a particular school or university.
ETAN's structure is flexible, and each chapter is free to choose its own structure, provided that its goals are consistent with ETAN and it is committed to nonviolence. To become a chapter, a group should write a short statement describing goals and plans for the chapter, introducing the folks who plan to be active members, and identifying a steering committee representative and a contact person. Requests for chapter status should be sent to the ETAN national office, which forwards them to the Steering Committee for approval. All are available as resources to local ETAN chapters. If an individual or a group is not able to form a chapter, they can also serve as a contact person for their area.