about us

The objectives of Manos are:

To release the emotional stress of poverty providing the necessary financial aid to assist underprivileged children with education
To contribute vital funds that will help improve the children’s future and empower them through knowledge
To encourage programs that enable children to attend school and receive medical treatment and which gives the children a chance to have a choice to be a contributing member of society.

Lolita Rodriguez

I was born in France and have family roots in Spain so we often travelled between the two countries. Throughout my life and my many travels I felt a restlessness and a yearning for something more.

A brief visit to Africa was the kick I needed to open my eyes and it was only after establishing my life in Australia and a year spent teaching in South America that I developed a deeper awareness of what is important to me.
My career experiences gave me the initiative and drive to build this company, together with the people in my life who gave me support to make it a reality.

When I was teaching in Cusco one of my 6-year-old students would come everyday and participate in two sessions because he was so keen. His Mother was thrilled that he was enthusiastic to learn that she happily waited outside the class for 2 hours. It was the little light in his eyes and the 6 months I spent with all these kids, which made me realise that I had to find a solution. Not only for this young boy but also many others to discover the treasure of education.

In Spanish I would say “La Educación pondrá en sus manos “la Esperanza” que nadie puede darles”, which loosely translated means “Education will lay in their hands what nobody can give them - “hope”’.

“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and stars.” Confucius

Sharon deRosario

I believe my passion for travel began when I was in the womb…my parents’ left Burma in 1967 - my Mother 5 months pregnant with me. It was the beginning of a prosperous new life for my family in Western Australia but one that has also left a yearning to return to our troubled native country that still 40 years later is being ruled by a military dictatorship.

In 1992 I headed for a taste of life on the east coast of Australia where I worked for a large consultancy firm and honed my administrative and organisational skills. By 1996, after living in Los Angeles and being exposed to a much more raw view of the world, I was living in New York working in hospitality and holding down several jobs to get by. After a stint at a museum volunteering with children, my eyes were opened to how tuned in today’s children are when it comes to social issues and awareness. Every child deserves the opportunity to broaden their minds and explore the possibilities that education can bring.

I was also fortunate enough to be given an introduction into the New York film world where I spent many long days schlepping on the sets of feature films. Not to be deterred by lack of sleep and diva attitudes, I stuck with it and discovered a love of filmmaking. And while I was pinching myself that it was all too good to be true, along came a someone who put a bright sparkle in my eyes and before long this love-cynic was saying ‘lets get married!’

My own journey with breast cancer in the last 5 years has only deepened my resolve to act on my desire to help others. It has taught me to be present and affirmed to me how privileged I am. My husband and I will continue to travel as often as possible to be able to learn from the world abroad and impart some of our knowledge to others along the way.

No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure. - Emma Goldman, anarchist, feminist and activist (1869-1940)

Sondita Mein

My motto has always been "Give me a fish I will eat for a day, teach me to fish I will eat for a lifetime". I am an energetic person with a positive attitude towards life and work.

I strongly believe that a good education will empower the children and help them with employment opportunities in the future.

It has given me much joy and satisfaction personally to assist others financially or through voluntary activities. I am a ‘doer’ which has led me to sponsor a child in Vietnam and to volunteer as both a teacher’s assistant in a Primary school and a carer in a home for the Aged.

I believe that Manos will enable me to stretch my helping hands toward every child who needs and wants support in their education. A poem that I wrote last year sums up my feelings:

The sun came out and touched our skins; somehow it felt like needles and pins…
The rain poured down and kissed my face; my emotions are a muddle, a haze..
The story that follows is one that has been told before,
The sun and the rain come when the fox marries the crow.

Human actions of destruction and greed,
I say: Who are we? What kind of breed?
Why all this hatred, this unwarranted pride?
The ego, the self, the lifetime bride.

But today is different, today is a gift,
Today I make myself a promise, one that I will keep.
Today I change, my emotions won't drift.
Today I decide that when life seems bleak,
I will take out my helping hands and give it that little 'tweak'.

Loretta Haig

My initial interest in tourism was sparked in my hometown Hobart Tasmania. I pursued an Associate Diploma of Business so I could further explore all the possibilities of a career in the Tourism industry.

I guess my love of wine originally brought me to Western Australia where I was able to discover the beauty of the State and develop my knowledge and skills working for a vineyard in Margaret River. I went on to manage an eco resort and am currently enjoying working in management for one of the more successful and established coach operators in Perth.

After a little encouragement from my family I set out seeking inspiration and fun and found it in Europe and Asia.

I was struck by Lolita’s experience of living and teaching in Cusco, highlighting the need to establish a humanitarian cause.

I believe we have a responsibility to assist those in a less fortunate position, in any small way that we can. I am delighted to be on the Board and to contribute to such a worthy cause.