About Migrant Action Trust

Migrant Action Trust (MAT) is a non-profit charitable trust incorporated in January 2003. (registration A/K1268656)

Our founders started meeting as early as February 2002. The first batch of people present at the time were:

Alice and Noli Lacaba
Agnes Granada
Richard Barter
Harry Singh
Birgit Grafarent
Natalia Maz
Lydia Duacaiova
Jaromir Pistora and
Whay Leng Quek

MAT is grateful to Tear Fund for there wonderful support from the beginning, especially during the commencement of the organization and providing us with a meeting place.

MAT’s objectives:

To encourage migrants to help other migrants
To encourage self-help towards economic productivity and be part of the New Zealand community
To develop programmes and/or cooperate with other groups to assist the settlement of migrants and refugees
To provide an understanding of living in New Zealand and what the Treaty of Waitangi says about migrants
To promote participation in the democratic processes of New Zealand especially in issues directly affecting them
To promote the contributions of migrants and refugees to New Zealand

People engaged in achieving MAT’s vision:

appreciate New Zealand and what it stands for
have a genuine interest in migrant and refugee issues
deliver services of a high standard in relationship building and information dissemination
are goal directed
act when it’s needed
are migrants and refugees who can relate to others of similar situations
believe in the transfer of skills and empowerment
respect all cultures and believe in equal opportunities for all

The success of the organization is largely attributed to the hard work and commitment of its volunteers and unpaid advisers. Currently, the present migrants engaged in the organization are:

Trust Board, of 6 members namely:
1. Camille Nakhid, Chairperson
2. Asoka Basnayake, Vice-Chair
3. Richard Barter, Secretary
4. Navin Kumar Sharma, Treasurer
5. Tanya Sun, Board Member
6. Remi Cruz

Two staff and two sub-contractors

over 40 volunteers (mostly migrants) as below

Ado Flores – Resource Speaker	Liza Bacit – Event Resource Person
Alex Bolima - Mentor	Cecilia Jimenez – Office Administration
Ben Ilori – Office Administration	Charina Shearer – Resource Speaker
Berlinda Chin - Mentor	Madel Lising – Event Resource Person
Carmie Astadan – Mentor	Manny Angel – Resource Speaker
Charlotte Ndumba Ndala – Event Resource Person	Marlene Fuentes - Mentor
Debbie Libre – Resource Speaker Support	Mel Libre – Resource Speaker, Advocacy and Media
Dennis Maga – Resource speaker	Miguel Lim – Youth Volunteer
Dorothy Ellies – Event Resource Person	Niki Panayiodou – Resource Person
Eric Morales – Resource Person	Nonato Bacit – Event Resource Person
Gina Ingua – Resource Person	Paolo Lim - Youth Volunteer
Greg Ortiz – Event Resource Person	Paul Cooke – Facilitator
Hilton Tito – Resource Person/Facilitator	Paulo Garcia – Resource Speaker
Hiroshi Nakatsuji – Event Resource Person	Ramon Saavedra Jr – Resource Speaker
Howard Atkinson – Migrant Advocacy	Remi Cruz – Mentor
Indiver Nagpal - Mentor	Roger Lising – Event Resource Person
Jamil Khan – Youth Volunteer	Rosanno Hernandez – Newsletter Editor
John Corban – Micro Enterprise Adviser	Rosana Delgado – Event Resource Person
Jonathan Co – Event Resource Person	Selvi Sreedharan – Mentor
Jose Costas – Media	Sheila Ebreo – Resource Person
Jose Rodion Uy – Event Resource Person Jane Yee – Legal Advisor	Susan Zhu - Mentor
Joy Caballero – Mentor	Tanya Sun – Mentor
Jun Dolon – Mentor	Thelma Cruz - Mentor
Kate Go – Resource/Financial Partner	Jay Abaya - Office Support
Kate Tindall – Marketing Resource Person
Lia Ortiz – Event Resource Person
Liza Atkinson – CV and job alert Volunteer