By Tamohara das

The ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection (CPO) is happy to announce the appointment of our new Executive Director, Champakalata devi dasi (Vasanthie Pillai), who recently began serving in this capacity. In a current visit to Alachua, Florida, she received a complete orientation and training course on the duties of the office from Tamohara das, former Executive Director, and Mahavishnupriya devi dasi, current Assistant Director. She is enthusiastic to assume the leadership of this vitally important ISKCON office.

Champakalata devi dasi brings unique qualifications and experience to the Office that make her an ideal candidate for the position. She received her law degree in 1992, and has been a practicing attorney in criminal law, real estate law, and labor law. She is a Presiding Officer for the Department of Labor of South Africa and helps arbitrate labor disputes and compensation claims. She also has a post-graduate degree in Education and is a certified teacher.

In her devotional career, she has served as Head of Legal Affairs as well as Communications Director for ISKCON Durban. Her twenty years of communications and public relations experience will be particularly helpful in her new position, as will her legal and teaching background. She has been especially active with child protection in South Africa, and is head of the Durban Child Protection Team.

Champakalata devi dasi, who resides in Durban, South Africa, is an initiated disciple of His Holiness Indradumya Swami. She comes from a long line of Vaisnavas, culminating in her parents taking initiation as ISKCON devotees thirty years ago when she was a child. She is married to Shakshi Gopal das, who is a disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami, and they have a nine-year-old daughter.

Champakalata devi dasi is enthusiastic to continue and improve upon the work of the ISKCON Child Protection Office. Mahavishnupriya devi dasi will continue serving as Assistant Director, handling investigations and reviewing cases. Tamohara das will concentrate on GBC work and other services, and remains grateful for the opportunity to serve the Child Protection Office for the last five years.

Champakalata can be reached at Champakalata@telkomsa.net, or cpo@pamho.net.
She will be furnishing more contact details in subsequent reports.

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