SI NEWS 2005 en Exco

Geoff Maltby

My birthplace was Rhyl, North Wales (UK) in 1933. I commenced two years National Service in 1951 in the Royal Air Force based in U.K. and Egypt. After several years employed by British Railways as a Controller, I migrated to Australia with my wife Brenda and two children Sonia and Paul in 1964. We settled in Queensland where I worked in the Airline and Travel Industry, retiring from the workforce in 1993. Brenda and I joined Servas in 1994. In 1996 I took on Host Coordinator for QLD. In 1999 I took on S.I. Host List Coordinator for two years. In 2000 I was elected National President of Servas Australia (a three year term of office).

Honora Clemens

Honora has been with Servas for 9 years and has attended the Thai and Spanish conferences. She is a retired teacher who has converted into being a travel writer and singer. The stories are used as fund raising for a number of charities and involve quite a lot of enjoyable researching. Her interests include Sustainable Development for which she attended the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa representing Servas. As an extra to this she travelled in Africa looking at Sustainable Development. Throughout her adult life she has been a secretary for many organisations.

Claudio Pacchiega

I was born in 1962 (Tiger sign under the chinese Zodiacs), open door in Italy since 1985, and active in Servas Italy from 1998. I acted as local help and coordinator until 2000, when elected Italian SecretaryI studied Philosophy and Computer Science with a degree in the latter in 2000. I was in SI ICT in 2003. I worked in the computer world as a computer analyst and programmer since I was 18, and personally being very interested in non-profit organizations involved in the openness and free exchanging of ideas, goods and services, for example “Time Banks” volunteer associations, open source information projects like “wikipedia” and organizations for hospitality exchange. What I considered important and unique in “Servas” was the networking attitude and towards the Peace from the small things like the friendships coming from hosting or just meetings which are at the basis of its creation.

Ömer Özkan

I was born in 1972 in Marmaris, on the SE coast of Turkey. Throughout my professional career, I have been involved in many IT Projects in different projects companies and associations like TUBÝTAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey- Medical Department), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Navy, Volkswagen-Turkey and finally HSBC Bank-Turkey. I have been in Servas for 4 years. Starting as a host and a traveller, I was elected as national secretary of Turkey in 2003. Besides the regular work the highlight of this period was the “Eurasia Meeting” which was organized in Capadocia, Turkey with 30 participants from 5 different countries. I hope to see Peace and “young” activities in the Centre of Servas.

Gary Sealey

Gary has been a host for 20 years in Ottawa, Canada. Gary's varied career has included work with National Parks in a range of senior management duties. The last 10 years he has been project manager in a variety of NGOs such as United Nations, Friends of the Earth and Global Network on Food Security, UN World Food Summit, Commission on Sustainable Development. As extras he helped endow 5 university scholarships and produce national literacy tour. Now, Gary works occasionally for money, but mostly for fun. Activities include Parliamentary and Media Relations for poverty groups. Travel includes Jamaica (helping set up national environmental education programme), Brazil (for the first meeting of the Southern-based Network on Food Security), and many others with long distance motorcycling over America. Recently he returned to graduate studies in Education, taking all the courses in French. His favourite reading is philosophy; his favourite toy is his canoe. .PeaceSecretary@servas.org

Bibendra Pradahanga

I was born in Bhaktapur, 13km east of Katmandu, Nepal and grew up and was educated there. Now I live in Lalitpur near Kathamandu .I came from the Malla dynasty the ex-rulers of Katmandu valley some 300 years ago. After completing my Diploma in commerce I joined the government but could not get the job satisfaction there. So I started my own business. My main interest was in social work. I joined the Service Civil International (SCI) Nepal in 1981 as a volunteer. I am the ex President of SCI Nepal and also worked as Asian Executive Committee member of SCI. I joined Servas Nepal in 1988 as host. I worked in Servas from the bottom. As South West Asia Area coordinator for two terms I got the privilege to develop Servas in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Bhutan .I am the Founder Convener of Amnesty Int. Nepal, group 61. and am also the member of Hague Appeal for Peace.