Andrew Mahar meets President Taur Matan Ruak

Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak visited his birth village to pay respects to resistance fighters who had died during the Indonesian occupation. Andrew Mahar AM, co founder of WithOneSeed and Leopoldina Guterras were invited to attend the ceremony and had an informal relaxed meeting with the President on the veranda of an old Portuguese house, now a community centre.

The President had heard of the work of WithOneSeed from Timor Leste’s Ambassador to Australia H.E. Abel Guterras. Andrew was given the opportunity to talk with the President at some length about WithOneSeed’s work.

The President was very appreciative and supportive and asked to be provided with a briefing paper on the WithOneSeed project and was keen to see the project established in his village.