This is your life series

In this latest 'This is your life' interview series, we learn about more of our members!!
 
Sudeep reflects on his life from early days as a new arrival from Nepal.
Madhuri is a quiet achiever at RPM who has the tenacity and professional experience to empower girls in Australia and Nepal. A great video of Madhuri bungee jumping is also included within this update!
Micheline is passionate about working towards empowering communities.
Alice is a social entrepreneur at Smile Stard Days for Girls Enterprise In Nakuru county - Kenya.
and Tina shared her background and connection to Days for Girls in Rome, Cambodia and Zambia!
 
 

Sudeep Maskey

Community Service Director Sudeep Maskey arrived in Australia in 2005. As a young student, life was challenging during the early days. Nevertheless, Sudeep’s perseverance and approach to connecting with others has resulted in his ability to thrive in his new country
It wasn’t that long ago that a young Sudeep arrived with AU$1000.00 in his pocket to begin life in a new country. On arrival, he was not off to an auspicious start. A worried Sudeep was left waiting outside Melbourne Airport for one and a half hours for his contacts to pick him up.
 
At first, it was difficult to settle an Australian lifestyle. Sudeep was used to strong community ties in Nepal where his social life was active and sport also was a popular activity. When he arrived, there were no social activities for Nepali youth. This was until Sudeep discovered a small group who were interested in playing soccer. In 2005 there were approximately 16 members who formed up a soccer team. Now, with Sudeep’s mentorship there are 60-65 members playing in local competitions with some returning to Nepal to play in the national league.
 
Over the years in Australia Sudeep developed leadership skills as well as his Masters Degree in Accounting. Through his experience in banking, he was able to assist new arrivals from Nepal negotiate the banking and financial systems in Australia. He began to think about the possibility of assisting his country of birth. Australia has strong and vibrant Nepali communities who are interested in helping but they are not aware of the processes. After joining RPM Sudeep discovered this was possible through Rotary and he has been busy taking RPM out to the Nepalis in Australia.
 
A successful fundraising event followed with great support from the Melbourne Nepali community took place last year with funds going towards a WASH (Toilet) Project in conjunction with Rotary Club of Kathmandu. This project is nearly completed.
 
Sudeep started 2022 by marrying Sangita Sibakoti (RPM Treasurer) So now we have another “family” in our club. Congratulations!
 
 

Madhuri Maskey

Madhuri, (who also happens to be Sudeep’s sister) recently returned from a visit to Nepal. It was indeed a surprise for Madhuri’s mother and family to see her after 3 years of separation as a result of Covid 19. Her mum was confined to the house and for the first time in her life, she felt very lonely. In Nepal, Covid had a definite impact on individuals as reported by the Nepali media.
 
Madhuri shared that the general scenario in Nepal was “heartbreaking” as income via tourism was non-existent especially where health and the economy were concerned. Nevertheless, she felt that the overall mood in Nepal was one of resilience and hope for the future. Many people she encountered were positive and looked forward to an improvement in their situation. She found this to be especially so in the more remote rural areas. A part of Nepal very familiar to Maduri due to her work with UNICEF for 20 years before migrating to Australia nearly 5 years ago..
 
One of Madhuri’s passions is lifting up a community through empowerment of women. Her conversation with Alison soon moved on to some grass roots issues in this area. Whist studying for her Master’s Degree, International Development, Madhuri was shocked to discover that some examples of family violence in Australia were worse than Nepal. She noted verbal abuse by men and other forms of negative controlling behaviour such as withdrawing a partner’s financial independence as examples. As a result, Madhuri has worked tirelessly towards peaceful families especially with immigrants.
 
Membership with RPM has opened up new ways to serve. Madhuri is involved with Rotary Safe Families, with Dorothy Gilmore, Rotary Club of Melbourne.
 
Inspired by the book, “Heartbreak in the Himalayas”, (RPM book club) and a visit to RPM by the author, Rotarian, Dr Ray Hodges, Madhuri connected with the Non-Residents Nepalese Women’s Association in Australia. Now there will be an activity with NRNA who will raise money for Dr Ray’s teaching hospital in Eastern Nepal which will specialise in Uterine prolapses. This shocking condition affects 10% of the population which is approximately 850,000 women. RPM’s involvement is stewardship of the funds raised. NRWA will kick off their fundraising campaign on International Women’s Day in Sydney with a visit and presentation from Dr Ray.
 
It is no wonder that Sudeep referred to Madhuri when he said, “I was brought up by strong women.”
 
 

Micheline Erbes

I am a second generation Australian of Papua New Guinean ancestry. 

Over the past 15 years I have volunteered with diverse and multicultural communities within Melbourne, primarily engaging in community projects for marginalised women and youth. Abroad, I have established a grassroots community development project in rural Papua New Guinea that is focused on empowering disenfranchised communities with relevant resources, education and personal developmental mentoring.
 
Currently, I am completing a Master of International and Community Development whilst working professionally within the community services sector.  I am also the President of the Papua New Guinea Women’s Association of Victoria, a local not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting women and their families within the Papua New Guinean community of Victoria as well as back in Papua New Guinea. Within this organisation I am working on a project aimed at countering the prevalence of family violence, gender-based violence and gender inequality. Overall, this project aspires to heal the occurrence of intergenerational trauma and consequently end the cycles of family violence within the community.
 
I am very passionate about working towards empowering communities and am grateful for this opportunity to join the community of RPM and work together on many great things. 
 

Alice Wambui Mwangi

In her role as the Kenya Regional Enterprise Liaison, Alice serves as an important communication point for learning from, listening to, and assisting with Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) with DfG Enterprise. She also aids in listening to, and learning from Enterprises about best practices to strengthen the program around the globe including what is working, and what is not. In addition, Alice manages the communication of reporting, campaigns, Enterprise tools, resources, and MLE to and from Enterprises with the support of the DfG Global Enterprise Manager.
Alice is a Days for Girls Enterprise Leader and youth activist, and she oversees a 26-member team of 16 seamstresses and 10 trainers. She lives and stay in Kenya.
 
Alice set up an Enterprise from her mother's living room in 2018 to make washable sanitary pads and distribute them to girls in schools and women in the villages. Alice's first experience with menstruation was not good. Because of this, her passion is to let girls keep their own value and not to feel shame during the monthly recurring period.
In addition to this, Alice has a gift for encouraging people and speaking positively.
 
Other additional Roles and Responsibilities
  • Alice is the County Peace Ambassador Nakuru County
  • Public, Mentor /Motivational speaker
  • Founder of The Change Project(Kids programme)
  • Supervising Education scholarship/sponsorship program in Nakuru and Narok Counties.
  • Foster parent for two kids a boy and a girl
 
Academic Qualifications
  • Holder of Masters of Arts in Community Development from Mount Kenya University
  • Advanced Diploma in Information Technology
 
 

Tina Etherington

I was born in London, have lived in Rome for the past 50+ years, worked for the UN for 34 years (including 15 months in Egypt).... so, all in all, I would consider myself to be quite an open and international person!
 
Since retiring in 2012, I have become very active with humanitarian assistance, predominantly in Cambodia and Zambia. I am in close contact with the locals in both countries to ensure that the funds raised are used correctly; in this regard, I have visited Cambodia nine times and Zambia three. I also provide advice on project start-ups, the latest being a small initiative in Benin.
 
In 2016 I started the Rome Team of the international charity Days for Girls (DFG) and have distributed hygiene kits in both Cambodia and Zambia, mentoring local young ladies to take over the distribution and education programme. Our wonderful team is also very international, with representatives from 12 different countries!
 
Through my work with DFG in Zambia and our project in Cambodia, I have seen first-hand how education – especially for girls – can offer a way out of poverty. Consequently, I have become passionate about providing education opportunities for those youngsters who need a “hand up” in general and, in particular, am sponsoring/ have sponsored schooling for three girls in Cambodia, a boy in Zambia, and a girl in Bangladesh. When I receive their reports I feel truly blessed to be part of their lives.
 
Finally, here in Rome, I volunteer with the Samaritans, a non-political, non-religious telephone help line for those seriously depressed or suicidal. I also formed and lead a Christian bible study group.
 
I hope I can be of service to the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne!