Local Swazi Field Team

Ray Maseko

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Ray is the Team Manager and Board Field Team Director, living in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). Ray represents the Field Team and eMaswati communities on the PDI Board and manages his team in Swaziland. Ray first got involved in Possible Dreams International in 2013, when he heard about the organisation through Mandy Hubbard and then met with the founder Dr. Maithri.

Ray has qualifications in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. He has been involved in development work since the early 80s. First, with the US Peace Corps as a Trainer in several African countries, this role involved training trainers and providing Orientation to new US Peace Corps volunteers on Language and Cross–Cultural adaptation. This was followed by a position as a Program Manager for the Peace Training Program in Swaziland. After this, Ray worked for several years in different USAID funded projects in Administration and Finance, which were the Primary Health Care Project and then Education Policy Management Training Project. Ray has 20 years of experience working with International Infant Nutrition Program.

Ray joined PDI in 2015 as the Swazi Team Manager to carry out the wonderful work of providing much needed support and assistance to our most impoverished citizens in need in the Lubombo Region in the East of Swaziland.

Thembi Bhembe

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Thembi was born and raised in Siteki, in the Lubombo region of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). Thembi completed her secondary school O-levels in 2002. Before joining PDI in 2011, Thembi was involved in a variety of community work projects with fellow church members. She has previously worked for 2 years as a mentor mother at Siteki Nazarene Clinic, specialising in the Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) program.

Thembi holds a certificate in HIV/AIDS counselling and is currently studying a course in Psychosocial Support at the University of Swaziland which will enable her to better serve and understand the families and communities she works with across the Lubombo region. Thembi is passionate about lending a helping hand wherever possible and is a passionate advocate for all those who are suffering in her community.

Gcebile simelane

Gcebile was born in Hlathikhulu, in the Shiselweni region of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). She graduated high school in 2013 and went on to completing a Certificate in Accounting in 2015. She is still pursuing further studies in the accounting field and enjoys reading in her spare time.

Gcebile previously worked as an Assistant Accounts Officer for Nhlangano Casino and has also worked with Population Services International (PSI) in promoting HIV testing and circumcision as presentation health measures. Gcebile has a passion for helping the needy and less privileged in her community and feels that “PDI is where [her] heart is and is supposed to be.”

SAMUEL (MAKHUNDU) DLAMINI

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Samuel is a respected member of the eMaswati community who has been working in positions of leadership throughout the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)for several decades. From 1993 to 2004 he worked at the Christian Media Centre as a program producer and sound engineer and was studio manager at MPD group in Matsapha for 6 years.

His singular gentleness and dedication to the poor and sick make him the embodiment of PDI’s compassionate spirit. He is a mentor to younger members of the PDI team and liaises regularly at community meetings and with local government officials to ensure that PDI is not just partnering with communities, but is an organic part of the community it serves.

SIBUSISO (SIBU) THOBELA

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Sibu was raised in Siteki, the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)and graduated from Lubombo Central high school with a superlative academic record. He initially became involved with PDI as a lead singer/story teller in the Voices for the voiceless choir and toured with them to Australia in March 2013.

In his role as program assistant at PDI, Sibu co-ordinates PDI’s agricultural and Income generation projects for low income families. Sibu's dedication to the poor and diligent work ethic are a great inspiration to his colleagues and community.

Executive Board

Peter Ngigi

Peter is an accountant, a financial analyst and a passionate educator with an international outlook. He believes in the power of education to change lives as he is a living testimony of how education can transform a life. Peter embraces diversity and uses his skills and passion to impact knowledge to others.

As a volunteer treasurer, Peter is proud to be associated with PDI because in 2019, over 91% of every dollar we receive goes directly into areas that are critical to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.

Nishani Nithianandan

Nishani is a paediatric doctor working in Melbourne with a passion for improving inequity and public health. She has previously worked in regional Victoria and the Northern Territory. She co-founded the Possible Dreams Schools Diversity Program and completed an Honours research degree exploring perinatal mental health in women of refugee background. She firmly believes in PDI’s mission to support and work alongside communities in solidarity to create sustainable solutions.

Hui Ling Yeoh

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Hui Ling is a medical doctor working in Melbourne, Australia. She recently completed an honours research degree studying the effects of HIV and ageing. She was born in Malaysia and immigrated to Australia at a young age.

Hui Ling is passionate about social equity, and end-of-life care. She believes that the strength of Possible Dreams International is its deep respect and love for the people of Swaziland.

One of her most important guiding principles comes from “Vula Bevalile” a collection of stories written by Dr. Maithri about the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland): “Healthcare in Africa and around the world is at its best when it addresses a basic primordial human need: the need for someone to look in your eyes and say simply, from the heart ‘My brother, my sister, sawubona, I see you.'”

Ray Maseko

Ray is the Team Manager and Board Field Team Director, living in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). Ray represents the Field Team and eMaswati communities on the PDI Board and manages his team in Swaziland. Ray first got involved in Possible Dreams International in 2013, when he heard about the organisation through Mandy Hubbard and then met with the founder Dr. Maithri.

Ray has qualifications in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. He has been involved in development work since the early 80s. First, with the US Peace Corps as a Trainer in several African countries, this role involved training trainers and providing Orientation to new US Peace Corps volunteers on Language and Cross–Cultural adaptation. This was followed by a position as a Program Manager for the Peace Training Program in Swaziland. After this, Ray worked for several years in different USAID funded projects in Administration and Finance, which were the Primary Health Care Project and then Education Policy Management Training Project. Ray has 20 years of experience working with International Infant Nutrition Program.

Ray joined PDI in 2015 as the Swazi Team Manager to carry out the wonderful work of providing much needed support and assistance to our most impoverished citizens in need in the Lubombo Region in the East of Swaziland.

Ishara Fernando

Ishara is committed to using her skills to impact people she works with in a positive way to colour the world to be more equal, just and inclusive. She firmly believes in the sustainable approach PDI has in the communities we work with and is passionate about empowering people in need.

After founding a Financial Education program in rural Cambodia in 2013, Ishara contributed to Australian social enterprise Thankyou’s impact in international development in 2015. Exploring new growth opportunities in the banking sector in 2016, she then commenced the National Australia Bank graduate program. Recognising her project management, and relationship building skills, from 2016-2018 Ishara was a 'Scrum Master' (team leader/ facilitator) leading multiple teams to collaboratively deliver change, using agile and customer-led ways of working. Ishara then managed a charity foundation and business charity giving as the Operations Manager, Impact Manager and Foundation Manager at a social enterprise called Doing Good Rewards. She is now the Philanthropy and Impact Manager for BlueRock and Be BlueRock Foundation. Ishara is a motivated project manager, social impact professional and team facilitator passionate about delivering change.

Asika Pelenda

Asika is a medical doctor in Melbourne, Australia with a passion for global women’s and children’s health. With a verve for education, she teaches first year medical students in Health, Knowledge and Society at Monash University, Melbourne and volunteers with The Water Well Project. She is a strong believer in PDI’s holistic approach to community empowerment in creating impacts across generations and she is humbled by the opportunity to be part of this community.

Asitha Bandaranayaka

Asitha is a Project Coordinator at the Prince's Trust Australia. He works collaboratively across the organisation to deliver programs and evaluate social impact for Young People, Enterprise for Veterans, and Sustainable Communities. Asitha has a background in financial planning and a passion for creating sustainable impact in communities. He founded the community organisation Victorian Sri Lankan Youth Association and values the difference PDI makes in its communities. Any spare time is usually spent watching, playing, or talking about basketball and cricket.

Michelle KALsan

Michelle Kalsan is a Marketing professional with over 10 years' industry experience and is based in Adelaide. She is passionate about social improvement, health & well-being and sustainability. Michelle joined Possible Dreams International as a Board Advisor in 2022 and became a Board Member in 2023.

Michelle is currently Marketing Manager at SRA, a customised software solutions company. She is a long-standing volunteer at Vision Australia Radio, which provides news/reading services to the visually impaired, a Board Director of the Spence Club, a networking and professional development organisation for women in South Australia that supports a number of charities for women and a Board Director of Newosis Mental Health Foundation. She has also been involved in professional partnerships with the Starlight Foundation and Share the Dignity through previous roles.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Media from the University of Adelaide and a Mini MBA in Marketing through Marketing Week.

Board Advisors

Poul Bottern

Poul is the Group CEO for IntoWork Australia, a leading national provider of specialist recruitment, employment, apprenticeship, training and business solutions. This role followed two previous CEO roles at Wesley Mission Victoria and Kildonan Uniting Care. He has seen PDI’s work in Eswatini (Swaziland) first hand and volunteered his business acumen and leadership experience by joining our board.

Farah Al Amin

Farah Al Amin was born and raised in Malaysia before coming to Australia as a student in 2005. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication, she went on to pursue a Master Degree in Film and Television Studies where her true passion lies. Her line of work in producing focuses on co production work with Asia, aside from being involved in organizing several international film festivals in Melbourne.

Farah believes that the medium in which she works with serves as a powerful tool for storytelling and allows for the universal language of love and compassion to be shared across continents. When she was asked to produce the Melbourne leg of the documentary following the journey of the PDI Choir on their “Voices for the Voiceless Tour” in March 2013, little did she know the impact that it was going to have on her life. So strong was the influence that the PDI team had on her that she made her first trip to Swaziland 3 months later in June, which further sealed the love that was already growing rapidly.

Farah believes the amount of love and compassion that stems from each member of PDI and its holistic approach towards dealing with adverse circumstances makes the organization as unique and warm as it is, and strongly feels that the incredible stories within the group needs to be shared with the international community.

Julia Da Rocha

Julia is more than a graphic designer. Julia uses her background in marketing and design to help others achieve their success. She is known for her kindness, positive outlook, generosity and humanitarian nature.

She began her career creating designs for non-profit organizations in her local community such as the YMCA, The Humane Society, and other pet rescue organizations. She's taught portfolio and graphic design workshops for graduating students at the University of Florida and local community college.

Julia currently resides in Florida where she works as a senior graphic designer for a marketing firm. She and her sister – Judith, received an Honorable Mention for the 2009 New York Book Festival on their first children’s book titled “I love the World because…” and she is currently writing their seventh children’s book coming out at the end of 2018. You can visit more of her work at www.poz-art.com.

Rangi De Silva

Rangi is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist based in Melbourne who has a long-standing passion for global health, community empowerment and education. She has worked in Indigenous communities in Groote Eylandt and the Katherine region of the NT, and has volunteered in her home-country of Sri Lanka as well as Uganda and Tanzania. She has also held volunteer and board roles in various Melbourne-based global health organisations and groups.

Rangi’s most recent volunteer work in the Solomon Islands for the Australian Volunteers Program in 2018 involved collaborating with the WHO and the Ministry of Health to focus on education, capacity development and research in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology. She has also worked as a WHO consultant in the Solomon Islands. Rangi is also completing her PhD at the Mercy Hospital for Women through the University of Melbourne on Maternal morbidity and mortality in the Asia-Pacific region, where she also holds an honorary teaching role. She hopes to be able to incorporate research, public policy and education into her career in global women’s health in the future.

Jacinta Maddigan

Jacinta Maddigan is a Senior Social Worker who holds extensive executive management experience in the human services industry. Jacinta has worked across multiple States and Territories in Australia, primarily in child protection and disability sectors. She has a keen focus for inclusion and trauma informed practices for children and families. Jacinta currently leads teams in safeguarding children, reconciliation, business development and service delivery for families in the community.

Jacinta’s dream is to see communities experiencing vulnerability; be free from poverty and disadvantage. A world where equality is the status quo would be amazing. Jacinta’s mantra is ‘striving for a better tomorrow’.

More Volunteers

Bukhosi Masango - Fundraising Coordinator

Yufei Xu - Social Media Lead

Grace Freeman - Social Media Coordinator

Kate Drummond - Newsletter Coordinator

Madeleine Tickle - Newsletter Coordinator and Grants Officer

Sanuli Widanagamage - Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Wyatt Raynal - Events Coordinator

Julie Carette - Events Coordinator

Daffodil Joseph Anton - Website Manager

VACANT ROLES - Sponsorship Officers, Schools Programs Co-ordinator

Ambassadors

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world” – Anon “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

The voices of those suffering from HIV, extreme poverty, endemic disease and malnutrition are scarcely heard in the global discourse. It seems that the rift between the developing and developed worlds grows bigger every day.

And yet, the paradox is that there is only one world. Every child, every human life, matters. The only way to begin to redress global iniquities is to translate our belief in universal human rights into the language of action.

This is why we call upon you, whoever you may be, to become part of a new dream. To become an Ambassador of the Possible. This is not some abstract, lofty concept. It is infinitely simple. All it requires is a willingness to do your part to help. The details are entirely up to you! Your contribution to this possible dream may be through raising funds, spreading awareness, or simply sharing the message of hope with your friends and family.

All over the world, Possible Dreams International has called upon ordinary men and women to become our ambassadors: to raise the banner of hope and share our message of true equity and social justice.

In Australia:

Susan Carland and Waleed Aly
David Dunn and Nuworks Theatre Co.
Ilura Press - Christopher and Sabina
Debbi Long - Health Anthropology Network, Senior Lecturer of Global Studies at RMIT University, Melbourne
Tasneem Chopra
Faye Buchanan - Mirboo North
Paul Kirton
Carey Baptist Grammar School
Wesley College

International supporters:

Friends of Eswatini (formerly Friends of Swaziland)

In the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)

Matron Anna Zwane (retired director)

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop

Our People at PDI