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Madeleine Broadbridge (left) at the van
inauguration in Nepal.
end of my contract as an opportunity
to do something completely different.
“I had been looking at the
Australian Volunteers Program, waiting
for the time to be right. Overnight, the
time became right and it didn’t take
long to find a role that ticked all the
boxes for me.”
In addition to the accessible
van, Madeleine worked with CIL-
Kathmandu to organise Nepal’s
inaugural international conference
loves
A
26-year-old Adelaide
woman has helped
launch Nepal’s first fully
accessible vehicle after spending
a year volunteering in the
country’s capital Kathmandu.
Madeleine Broadbridge supported
the Independent Living Centre
on accessible adventure travel and
participated in numerous advocacy
Nepal’s first
accessible van
and awareness raising activities.
Now back in Adelaide, Madeleine
said she learned so much from her
international volunteering effort.
to access support services and
independent living programs.
She also hopes it will act as an
“Working in disability in Nepal has
given me a new lens. I now find myself
scanning pathways, buildings and
advocacy tool to promote more bathrooms noting how they can be
accessible vehicles in Nepal. made more accessible,” she said.
“Unfortunately, disability still carries
a lot of stigma in Nepal,” she said.
“I am careful with the design
features of my communications
“Many people with disability do material to ensure they are clearer for
for Persons with Disabilities (CIL- not have access to therapy, treatments people who are vision impaired and I
Kathmandu) by securing a grant or assistive devices and often they bring disability inclusion into almost
through AVI and Planet Wheeler’s are kept in isolation from the wider every conversation I have with people
Community Grants Scheme to modify community. CIL-Kathmandu works I meet. I have also learned how to
the Toyota Hiace van with roof racks hard to change these perceptions and properly manoeuvre a wheelchair.
and a hydraulic lift. to remove these barriers.”
It was one of a wide range of tasks
Madeleine joined the Australian
“It has been easy for me to become
very passionate about creating
she undertook as Communications Volunteers Program, an Australian inclusive and accessible environments,
and Partnerships Advisor with CIL- Government initiative, after and not just for Nepal!”
Kathmandu through the Australian she was made redundant in an Volunteers Program. organisational restructure at Nepal late last year by the Australian
her former job in Adelaide. Ambassador to Nepal, His Excellency
Madeleine said the van is already
playing a crucial role in providing
transport for CIL-Kathmandu members
“I had no ties keeping me in
Adelaide and I realised I could take the
The accessible van was launched in
Peter Budd.
www.australianvolunteers.com
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