It is with great pleasure that we can inform you that Joaquim Soares, the Director of Klibur Domin (the Ryder-Cheshire Home in Timor-Leste) has been presented with a national human rights award. The award ceremony took place in the President’s Palace in Dilli in December, with the President of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak making the presentations. Joaquim was nominated by a number of the organisations of which he is a member, and the award recognises his work across these various organisations in advocating for people with disabilities and for their health care, over the past nine years.

Everyone who has met Joaquim and seen his work at Klibur Domin, will join in sending him their very heart felt best wishes for this extremely well deserved award, and will rejoice that his incredible ability and hard work has been recognised at the national level within Timor-Leste.

Peter Newton, the President of Ryder-Cheshire Australia, sums it all up beautifully in the following extract from his recent email to Ryder-Cheshire committee members.

“I know you will all join me in sending our warmest congratulations to Joaquim and to his wife Maria who has supported him so well. He is a man with enormous talent and commitment to helping those less fortunate. He works tirelessly for Klibur Domin and for other groups doing humanitarian work in Timor-Leste. He is a very worthy recipient of this high honour.”

Congratulations Joaquim!