[Dpo-officemanagers] Farewell from DRF - Contact details request for ongoing DRF communications

[Paul Deany]

Dear Friends, (apologies for cross-postings)

It is with a ixed emotions that I write to inform you that after over 8 wonderful years as Program Officer for the Pacific and Asia, I am leaving Disability Rights Fund (DRF). I will still be answering emails this month of February and DRF’s important work in the Asia-Pacific region will continue through its existing team and consultants. For ongoing DRF related enquiries, please contact Information and Program Coordinator, Kerry Thompson at kthompson at disabilityrightsfund.org<mailto:kthompson at disabilityrightsfund.org>

Contact details request: For people reading this and working in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pacific Island Countries, it is important we have your correct contact details for announcements and communications in future.

To assist with this process, could you please send the following details to this email by  next Monday Feb 19th:

Name: Your name

Organisation: Your organisation’s name, or write ‘Individual’

Email: Best ongoing email for either you or your organisation
 __________________________________________________________________

In leaving, I especially want to thank DRF’s Founding Executive Director, Diana Samarasan, Program Director Lisa Adams, and the whole wonderful DRF team who have been invaluable supports to me and our work globally and across the Asia-Pacific. DRF is a truly unique, ground-breaking initiative that has played a key role in promoting and supporting disability rights work and helping to make the UNCRPD a reality in many countries - from the grassroots right through to the highest levels. It never ceases to amaze me the brilliant work we support and the courageous, inspirational people leading this work. This means you! It has been an absolute joy and a rare privilege to work with the many hard-working disability activists and DPOs I have had the pleasure of knowing.

To my many valued friends and colleagues working across Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Pacific, South East Asia, USA, Australia and beyond, I feel lucky to have met you and regard you as true champions, carrying out pioneering work in challenging contexts to concretely improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Thank you for the work you do, for who you are and for the inspiration you provide to others. Keep up this important work and never give up!

As I have said recently, I am leaving DRF but I am not dying, just moving onto the next thing. I have joined Australian Volunteers International as Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. This is an exciting role where I will be working to ensure the Australian Volunteer Program becomes more diverse and inclusive for persons with disabilities; indigenous persons; people from diverse socio-economic, religious and cultural backgrounds; and men and women of all ages. It’s an exciting challenge and one particularly satisfying thing is that I will remain in touch with the many disability organisations where AVI works around the world. My contact at AVI is: pdeany at australianvolunteers.com<mailto:pdeany at australianvolunteers.com>

In closing, I would like to use the words of American deaf-blind pioneer, Helen Keller who said “Life is a daring adventure or nothing”. So make the most of your talents and your lives, take care and have big fun!

It’s been a joy and an honour knowing you all!

Keep in touch, thank you and warmest regards

Paul Deany
Program Officer for the Pacific and Asia
Disability Rights Fund

PO Box 2216
West St Kilda, VIC 3182 Australia
(Melbourne: GMT +10)

Tel: 61 (0) 407 909 897 (Email preferred)
email: pdeany at disabilityrightsfund.org<mailto:kthompson at disabilityrightsfund.org>
w: www.disabilityrightsfund.org
FAQs: www.disabilityrightsfund.org/faq<http://www.disabilityrightsfund.org/faq>
DONATE NOW<https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/disabilityrightsnow>
Skype: paul.deany

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