Join Forces to Grow a Greener Future

Growing Futures in Timor-Leste is a Rotary-led project partnering with Rai Matak’s 50-year plan to plant 10 million trees, generate certified carbon income for farming families and communities, transforming rural livelihoods across Timor-Leste and restoring farmland from deforestation.

Why This Project Matters

• Timor-Leste is one of the world’s youngest nations, and exists in our Rotary South Pacific region.
• Over 42% of the population live below the poverty line and over 70% live in rural areas, relying on subsistence farming.
• Deforestation has devastated ecosystems, impacting the land and communities.

Rai Matak (“Green Land”) is turning this around. Farmers plant and care for native trees on their own land and are paid each year for every surviving tree. After eight years, the sale of certified carbon credits provides ongoing sustainable income for families and funds for community  projects (e.g. bridges, water, tanks, irrigation, community centres). This is a proven approach, building on the WithOneSeed pilot (500,000 trees and US$1 million paid to farmers) of the xpandFoundation, ensuring strong local leadership and science-based outcomes.

Watch this short 3 minute video with an overview of the initiative.

ROTARY AREAS OF FOCUS IN ACTION

Community & Economic Development

• Provides steady income for farming families (about 675 people) through certified carbon credits.
• Creates 100+ local jobs, strengthens rural economies, and fosters community pride.

Supporting the Environment

• Restores degraded land and protects biodiversity.
• Expands forest cover and captures carbon to combat climate change.
• The project is scalable and replicable for other developing countries.

Rotary’s Role

Bridge funding ensures farmers stay engaged, trained, and supported through the critical establishment phase to ensure long term income can be accessed via carbon credit revenue. Rotary provides the global network and funding tools to make it happen:

• District Designated Funds (DDF), a Rotary Foundation Global Grant and club donations will channel USD 300,000 as bridge funding for the farmers until carbon income flows.
• Be a part of our Rotary network including Rotary Melbourne, ESRAG and Rotaract Dili to help run community events, share stories, and mentor young leaders.
• Timorese NGOs handle day-to-day planting and payments.

Commit & Support

Rotary Melbourne has kickstarted the campaign with an initial pledge of USD 10,000. We are seeking a pledge from each District within Rotary South Pacific. USD 10-15,000 DDF plus additional individual and club donations will ensure maximum Global Grant outcomes - matching an additional 80% of every dollar we raise.

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