TEAM AUSTRALIA

Dr Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal (MBBS, MD (UvA), MD (VU), RACP, MPH) is the founder of the Punya Foundation. Dr Dhakal is a consultant physician and has a specialisation in Geriatric Medicine and Public Health. Dr Dhakal was born in Dagapela, got his education from Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Netherlands and Australia. His work experience covers Bhutan, India, Nepal, Netherlands and New Zealand. Currently, he works for Victorian state government in a public hospital and is also affiliated with the University of Melbourne as a Senior Clinical Fellow. Besides clinical practice, Dr Dhakal is active in social welfare, social justice and advocacies. Punya Foundation's Justice through Education and Empowerment appeals him to work for social justice. You can reach him at info@punyafoundation.org or lakshmidhakal@gmail.com.

Mr. Bhandari was born in Bhutan. He holds B.Sc. and B.Ed from Nepal. Additionally, he has done a Certificate Ill in Electronics and Disability from South Australia. Also, Mr Bhandari holds a Diploma in Community Services and Bachelor of Educational Studies with Secondary Mathematics Teaching from NSW. He is a Curriculum Coordinator of Bhutanese Ethnic School (BES) in South Australia. Currently, he works for the South Australian Department of Education as a Nepali Language Teacher in the School of Languages. Mr Bhandari is the Treasurer of the Foundation since its inception and Country Head for Australia since 2015. His accountability is regarded. He is highly motivated to work for social justice and finds the Foundation's Justice through Education and Empowerment a platform. You can reach him at jalanbhandari©gmail.com

Pundit Santi Ram Dhakal was born in Dagapela, Bhutan. He holds a master's in Sanskrit Literature from Sampurna Nanda Sanskrit University and Bachelors's degree in sociology from BR Ambedkar University, Agra. Pundit Dhakal is a Justice of Peace for South Australia. He had been serving the community in and around Salisbury with appreciation from his clients. Having obtained an Interpreter's Diploma, Pundit Dhakal works as an interpreter. While in Bhutan, Pundit Dhakal worked for the Department of Forest for a couple of years. To be around his family, he left the job to work for Sanskrit Pathsala in Dagapela. It is there he learned the basics of Sanskrit and astrology; later mastering both fields. In Nepal, he worked as an in-school resource teacher. He is a founding member of the Foundation. Service to the poor and vulnerable attracts him to work for the Foundation.

Mr Pokhrel was born in Chirang, Bhutan. He lived in the refugee camps in Nepal for 19 years and is privileged to be resettled in Australia under a humanitarian scheme. While in Nepal, Mr Pokhrel has fulfilled various roles getting involved in human rights activities and in the social service sector as a volunteer. Later, he focused on business among others in a travel company. Mr Pokhrel is one of the successful migrant entrepreneurs. He runs a supermarket in Salisbury North in Adelaide, is a volunteer for the senior's program for Salisbury city council and for Lyell McEwin Hospital. He was active during the establishment phase of the Ethnic Bhutanese Ethnic Nepali School. Mr Pokhrel is the Foundation's representative for monitoring and evaluation of its scholarship project in Nepal and has been visiting Nepal each year for scholarship distribution. He is Foundation's acting treasurer

Dom Kafley (BEng (Civil)(Hons), MSc (Civil), MIE Aust) is a founding Public Officer and volunteer of Punya Foundation Inc. He currently lives and practices civil engineering in western Sydney. Born in Bhutan and educated in Nepal and Australia, Mr Kafley's volunteering includes volunteer schoolteacher in the refugee camps in Nepal, initiating the first Nepali radio program in Adelaide, assisting elder members of the community to prepare for their citizenship tests, co-founding and initiating the community newsletter, assisting regularise the Bhutanese Ethnic School (BES) and volunteering both within and out of the community organisation in various capacities. Mr Kafley participates in and supports forums advocating for refugees and those rendered stateless. He takes pride and a sense of moral relief in being part of Punya Foundation Inc. assisting the underprivileged children in their education and empowerment.

Kashi Adhikari is the Director of Programs of Punya Foundation Inc. Kashi is a multi-linguistic, multi-talented, NAATI accredited interpreter and translator. His clients are predominantly disadvantaged and vulnerable people from various backgrounds and under developing countries. Kashi was born in Bhutan, has obtained Australian citizenship and lives in Adelaide, South Australia. Kashi worked as a schoolteacher and held the position of vice-principal in Bhadrapur, Nepal. He also served as the Apex Council Member for the BAASA . While fulfilling the role of Director of Programs of Punya Foundation, he is also a member of the Lions Club Australia. Kashi adopted Australia as home in 2008. Ever since, he is at the forefront of helping Bhutanese, Nepalese and Indian communities. As the Director of Programs, he enjoys promoting community engagement organising activities like sports, information sharing, spiritual programs, etc. Kashi can be reached @ kashiadhikari@yahoo.com