EPOT

Andrew Ormsby

AFS Ireland

I have over a decade of experience in the design, development and delivery of educational content covering a wide variety of topics. My preferred facilitation style is non-formal, with a strong focus on participant engagement, open discussion and collaboration. Some areas that I specialise in include: Active Global Citizenship, Intercultural Learning, Youth Work, Arts in Education, Languages, Good Governance, Facilitation Methods and Game Theory. I enjoy working with participants of all ages, and all levels of experience with a topic.

Ida Molund Vasstrand

AFS Norway

With the combination of having lived and worked on four continents, 10 years of doing AFS trainings and giving workshops on intercultural understanding, a master’s degree in comparative religions, and being a high school teacher of language and social sciences, I have broad experience on guiding groups through transformative topics. It’s an honor to work with EFIL and I look forward to what comes next. I am also a yoga teacher and believe in the power of our minds.

Phoebe Koritou

AFS Greece

I am an AFS volunteer from Greece with a strong interest in facilitation and non-formal education in intercultural contexts. I have been involved in international initiatives such as the PEACE Prep Team and the VSS Coordinators Team. As a trainer, I focus on creating participatory and safe environments where participants can share experiences, reflect, and learn from each other. I am also familiar with digital tools and Active Digital Global Citizenship, and I enjoy using my knowledge of social media and digital engagement to enhance interactive learning.

Rivka Orlitová

AFS Czech Republic

I have experience with trainings covering the topics of conflict resolution, intercultural learning and communication, education, presentation skills and active global citizenship. I make use of my experience as a former exchange student, host family and volunteer. I try to deliver my trainings in interactive ways where the participants turn the gained theoretical knowledge into real-life situations. I prepare my trainings to a certain extent and am ready to adapt the flow to the specific group. I use different methods so that each participant can find something that suits them.

Danilo Savović

AFS Serbia

With 7 years of experience in both academia and non-formal education, I have a strong background in media literacy, politics and democracy. Over the past 3 years, I’ve been developing and facilitating trainings focused on volunteer motivation, Active Global Citizenship, and intercultural learning. I am confident in designing engaging sessions and adapting content to various learning needs and contexts. With a wide range of interests and flexible approach, I can transfer knowledge across diverse topics .

Guido Buffa

AFS Island

I have been volunteering for two (very) different countries – Italy and Iceland – and I have been facilitating trainings about ICL core and conflict resolution material for around 7 years now, both in person and online in a variety of contexts: on local, regional and national levels in both countries as well as for international events. I delivered workshops for schools about Active Global Citizenship, trainings for volunteers, families and participants and last year I got two certifications as a facilitator from AFS International.

Lea Anna Polívková

AFS Czech Republic

With over four years of experience as a national trainer with AFS, I bring fresh perspective and strong skills in designing and facilitating interactive workshops. My training focus includes Active Global Citizenship and Intercultural Learning, with a particular academic and practical interest in how these themes intersect with environmental sustainability.

Nicola Secci

AFS Poland

I design and deliver both soft and hard skills trainings across diverse contexts, and in four different languages (English, Italian, Polish, Spanish). With a solid foundation in intercultural communication, I focus on making complex or dry topics engaging, practical, and accessible for all participants. My strength lies in adapting content to fit each group’s unique needs while fostering an inclusive and interactive learning environment.

Leslie De Rooy

AFS Low Lands

With more then 29 years of AFS experience and a job that gave me the change to work globally. I learned how to communicate and how important this is. So training about knowledge how to keep it close to you and not get lost, communicating how and why! I feel I can contribute to make a change in active global citizenship.

Natalia Aleksandrova

AFS Germany

Have been a trainer for 3 years. Participated in various trainings of Erasmus+ and interested in topics like Digital Tools (AI, Design, Social Media), Intercultural Learning and Migration. I am able to adapt to different groups as well as to create unique projects depending on the need.

Driek Schuurmans

AFS Low Lands

With 7 years of experience as a trainer on national and local level and 6 years of experience as a primary educational teacher I’m able to adapt the topic to different groups before and during a training. My main interests are AGC, intercultural learning, conflicts & communication and migration (and how this effects the previous topics).

Kerrin Appel

AFS Germany

With a background of facilitating intercultural trainings and learning opportunities in volunteer youth work for over 15 years, my strengths are empathy, reliability and optimism. I am a Generalist through and through, so I am happy to adapt and deliver training contents for differing target groups and quickly adopt new training methods.

Betül Gümüş

AFS Türkiye

I specialize in facilitating interactive workshops on soft skills development and non-violent communication, helping participants build empathy, active listening, and conflict-resolution abilities. By combining facilitation with coaching techniques, I empower individuals and groups to reflect, collaborate, and engage constructively—fostering a culture of active citizenship and inclusive dialogue.

Veerle Derave

AFS Low Lands

I have been a trainer and proces manager for children, young people and adults for more than 25 years in my job. I share this experience to help others develop courses.

András Nagy

AFS Hungary

I have over 8 years of experience as a trainer, both at national and international level. My main topics are leadership, volunteer engagement, creating a sustainable national trainer team. I’m also experienced in developing and delivering workshops about intercultural learning.

Malena Sánchez

AFS Spain

I have a wide background in national training and also european ones. My strengths are mostly in subjects related to volunteers and intercultural learning. Also, I consider myself as someone curious and flexible to do specific projects about more specif topics.

Szabolcs Gellény

AFS Hungary

I have given trainings about ICL, group leading, motivation and stress and also about community in the past 6 years. I always try to make my trainings fun and digestible. Changing the trainings for the trainees’ needs on the spot was never a problem for me.

Natalia Villanueva

AFS Spain

I have a strong background with local, national and European camps. I‘m really good covering Active citizenship and intercultural learnings my strengths are time management, organization, developing TSOs, logistics and creativity.

Mahmoud Elkasrawy

AFS Denmark

With a strong background in Human Resources and Project Management, I’ve been training and facilitating since 2015 locally and internationally. So far, I’ve delivered sessions in 3 continents, and 6 countries. I specialize in designing and delivering engaging workshops on people management, volunteer development, job hunting skills, career planning and development, and intercultural learning. Delivered sessions for hundreds of participants from all over the world.

Madara Berzina

AFS Latvia

Have been a trainer for 2 years and have attended multiple learning seminars both locally and internationally. It helps communicating with exchange students and other volunteers both in the digital and real world. Modern networking possibilities online require the same manners and cultural and social awareness. As an AFS volunteer, when learning new skills, know that I will be able to use the gained knowledge, and if not teach, then pass on the practices, and tips and tricks to others in the community.

Emilia Gil

AFS Slovakia

As an experienced AFS volunteer and active trainer, I bring a background in youth engagement, intercultural learning, and volunteer support. I have facilitated workshops at events like PEACE 2024 and ESV 2025. My work includes training mentors, managing risk, and coordinating national events, with involvements on international level for example on VSS and EPOT. I emphasize practical facilitation with a focus on community-building. My strengths are clear communication, reliability, and a strong sense of responsibility. I am committed to creating safe learning spaces that give strength to participants and help their volunteer engagement.

Murat Varlık

AFS Türkiye

With 5 years of experience in facilitation and 2 years of experience in trainings I can deliver sessions on the topics of “Active Global Citizenship”, “Intercultural Learning” and “Democratization Processes”. Furthermore I have worked with many age groups with different background which makes me suitable for adaptive scenarios where the demography of the participants are not clear and the preparations may not be available. I can adapt to the demographics’ needs and tailor the content accordingly.

Ema Ondráčková

AFS Slovakia

I have four years of training experience as a member of EPOT. As a qualified youth worker, I specialize in topics that directly impact young people. My key strengths in training include mentoring, democratic education, active citizenship on local level, child development and youth work. I’m passionate about incorporating art and creative techniques into my workshops, and I always strive to create a space where open sharing and active participation are at the heart of every session.

Agata Rosińska

AFS Poland

With over 3 years of experience as a volunteer in AFS Poland I have facilitated workshops at the seminars for both Polish and foreign students. The workshops mainly covered mutual understanding and cooperation between people representing different cultures and backgrounds. I’m in a teacher training specialization at my university, so the topic of educating, especially in the intercultural context, basing on my experience, is very familiar to me. I am an outgoing, joyful and positve person and I love working with people who also promote universal social values, such as empathy and respect for others.

Mary-Paz González

AFS ESP

I am a teacher and I love helping people to reflect and to extract their own conclusions.

I became a volunteer 18 years ago and after some different roles I realise that facilitating was my passion.

After having been in the EPOT for nearly 10 years, I have gained a strong background in all kind of workshops but what I like the most is debriefing. I’m a calm, adaptable and flexible person, not afraid of assuming responsibilities or leadership tasks.

Salma Rumman

AFS Egypt

Active in the AFS network since 2016 and a former exchange student to the U.S. (2016/2017), I am a youth-centered trainer experienced in designing and facilitating experiential, participatory learning. My work focuses on orientations, leadership, skill development, and active global citizenship. Through my involvement with AFS, I have worked with hundreds of participants and volunteers. I bring an energetic, inclusive, and adaptable facilitation style and enjoy collaborating with diverse teams and audiences to support meaningful learning and positive change.

Rachel Maher

AFS Ireland

I have over a decade of delivering workshops and trainings in various settings on topics including global citizenship and development education, mental health and wellbeing, and LGBTI+ inclusivity. I enjoy creating relaxed, inclusive learning spaces where people feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and learning from each other. I’m naturally good at connecting with people and keeping groups engaged, whatever their background. I use a mix of approaches and mediums, from interactive workshops and group discussions to creative and digital activities, to make learning practical, engaging, and relevant. My focus is always on making sessions meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable.

Paula Fornaçon

AFS Germany

Through my studies in educational sciences and my experiences with AFS, I gained experience and knowledge on topics on diversity and communication. My main topics for trainings are anti-discrimination and diversity, with a focus on queerness.
When creating workshops, I pay attention to make them as accessible as possible for different learning styles and for different needs, so that they can be adapted for diverse settings.

Edīte Millere

AFS Latvia

I am an experienced trainer working at the intersection of education, civic engagement, and systems innovation. I design and facilitate learning experiences for diverse audiences — from secondary school students to teachers, public officials, and NGO leaders. My strengths lie in translating complex topics into accessible, engaging formats that foster critical thinking and dialogue. I combine human-centered design, interactive methods, and structured reflection to create psychologically safe yet intellectually challenging learning environments that empower participants to act with confidence and clarity.

Marco Serano

AFS Austria

After 16 years of AFS volunteering and 20 as martial arts teacher, I write and lead my workshops with great attention to the personal growth that can be part of every learning process. I shape my trainings on the needs and resources of the target audience and I interact with the participants in order to make the workshop a unique experience.
Mental health, mentoring, interpersonal relationships, personal development and crisis management are my strong topics and also part of my everyday life.

Junaid Ahmed Habib

AFS Denmark

After my ESC in France from 2019 – 20, I started volunteering in AFS Denmark. I’ve done countless of national trainings for our 18+ as well school programmes and to a lesser extend, international trainings. I’ve previously been on the national board and done local chapter work as well, but for now I stick to the national coordination and trainings!
3 things that you should know of me as a trainer:
I am prepared, on time and have the ability to adapt!

Maria Vasti

AFS Italy

I have been an active volunteer for almost eight years, taking on a variety of roles at both local and national levels. I’m particularly passionate about team‑building, facilitation, and effective communication with both external stakeholders and the AFS community. Professionally, I work in the sustainability field, supporting companies and non‑profits on environmental and social topics. This combination of experiences has strengthened my ability to create inclusive learning spaces and guide groups through meaningful educational processes.

Menna Abouzeid

AFS Egypt

I joined AFS Egypt in 2012 and went on a life changing exchange program. Since my return, I have dedicated my time to volunteer with AFS in many ways.

In 2021, I joined the staff and I’m now a full time trainer. I found my passion in intercultural learning and decided to dedicate my entire time to help people become more aware of themselves and their surroundings.

I have been part of various trainings and activities, all in which I exerted all efforts to create a safe space and a fun learning environment for everyone.

Adéla Binderová

AFS Czech Republic

With a strong background in project coordination, team leadership, and non-formal education, I bring hands-on experience in facilitating trainings and workshops for diverse groups. Through my work with AFS and international projects, I have supported participants in intercultural learning, teamwork, and personal development, often in English and multicultural settings. I am confident in creating a safe, engaging learning environment and adapting content to the needs of participants. My key strengths include clear communication, strong facilitation skills, structured preparation, and the ability to connect theory with practical, interactive activities.

Zorka Kara

AFS Hungary

With a strong foundation in empathy, intercultural learning, and youth engagement, I bring a people-centered approach to training and facilitation. Having been an exchange student in South Korea and Brazil, I value experiencing local life to gain new perspectives and create meaningful connections. Since 2021, I have been an active AFS volunteer and a member of my country’s National Student Parliament and Council, working to make education more accessible, enjoyable, and future-oriented. I am confident in facilitating interactive tasks and I am confident in facilitating interactive tasks and leading sessions on topics like sustainability, communication styles, mental health, and intercultural learning.

Barbora Pelcová

AFS Czech Republic

After coming back from my exchange programme in Italy I became an active volunteer and trainer at the national level and now I would also like to use this experience within the international community. My trainings are focused not only on intercultural learning and active global citizenship, but also on critical thinking and cognitive biases. I’m interested in linguistics and psychology and I believe that in future trainings I will be able to use my knowledge of them as well.

Elisa Cervi

AFS Norway

I went on a year-long AFS exchange to Slovakia eight years ago and have been actively involved in trainings at local, national and international level ever since. With a background in the Psychology of Human Rights, Mobility, and Inclusion, I bring a solid theoretical grounding on intercultural relations, migrant well-being and social justice into my practice. I have experience designing and delivering school workshops and youth camps on Active Global Citizenship, intercultural competences, sustainability, and diversity, and I particularly enjoy creating dialogue-based, participatory spaces that are sensitive to different vulnerabilities.

Boglarka Gonczo

AFS Hungary

With nine years of experience in facilitating workshops, I have a solid background in Intercultural Learning and Active Global Citizenship. Over the past five years, as a trainer, I have been integrating my academic and professional experiences into my volunteer work, focusing on Critical Thinking, Digital Literacy, and Sustainability. My favorite way to learn new things is through experience, so I strive to create interactive materials for my workshops and encourage participants to challenge norms and think outside the box. I am curious and open-minded, so I focus on educating not just others but myself as well.

Linda O’Connell

AFS Ireland

I am an experienced trainer with over 20 years’ expertise in communications, digital marketing and leadership development. I design and deliver practical, high-impact training programmes that build confidence and capability across digital tools, communication platforms, leadership and change. I have trained staff, volunteers and leaders within large, complex organisations, supporting successful adoption of new systems and ways of working. My approach is engaging, learner-centred and outcomes-focused, blending strategic insight with hands-on experience to drive behaviour change and deliver measurable results.

Polaszczyk Maja

AFS Poland

I bring over six years of dedicated experience in the volunteering sector, specializing in both formal and non-formal learning environments for children and youth. My background has equipped me with the unique ability to connect structured education with creative, interactive methodologies that keep young minds engaged. As a passionate ecologist and sustainable development enthusiast, I integrate these important topics into various training modules, hoping to spark the interest of others in this important topic.

Cristina Ferreira Moura

AFS Portugal

I was a Portuguese and French high school teacher for several years, then a trainer in professional techniques, and now I returned to my language, helping immigrants living here.
Education and Culture are my life gools, as the Languages, that’s why I’m a AFS volunteer, for ten years now.
Another important target is the communication and usually I like to put some exercises about that in our camps because the students have some difficulties to understand the portuguese language.
Learning about the world, helps young people to be more Active Global Citizenship.

Zion Menétrey

AFS Switzerland

With a Master of Law you’d expect me to be a lawyer or a judge. Wrong. My passion is communication. My professional aim is Mediation. With skills and knowledge in Active listening, Non-violent communication and Conflict resolution, I deliver workshops on these topics using Roleplay, Games and Improv as facilitation mediums. My main focus so far has been Intercultural Learning, but I am looking to expand.

My personal focus and ambition in life is to be a professional mediator. In achieving this objective, I am learning and teaching the ins and outs of different communication tools, such as active listening, non violent communication and metacommunication. Through games and roleplay, I lead my workshops in an interactive way to teach about intercultural learning and conflict resolution. I aim to give volunteers the tools to become better at supporting eachother, the people in their care and, most importantly, themselves.

Cinzia Emanuela De Luca

AFS Italy

Docente di lingue straniere per 18 anni. Dal 2020 sono Dirigente Scolastico. Ho una discreta esperienza nella formazione nazionale ed europea. I miei punti di forza sono principalmente le materie legate all’apprendimento interculturale. Mi considero una persona curiosa, flessibile e propensa all’ascolto.

Yan Wing Shannon Lee

AFS Iceland

I have volunteered with AFS for half a decade, gaining hands-on training experience in two member countries, Iceland and Hong Kong. Working across different cultural contexts has sharpened my ability to design engaging and adaptable learning experiences. My studies in diverse linguistic fields, including sign language, have deepened my interest in inclusion and accessible education. Through active participation in multiple Erasmus+ projects, I have gained valuable insight into creative and practical training methods across varied themes and settings. I am excited to join the EPOT team and push the boundaries of my imagination through new challenges and collaboration.

Cecilia Frego

AFS Italy

I have extensive experience as a trainer in multicultural and educational settings. Through my long‑term volunteer work with Intercultura -AFS Italy and my activities within the European Solidarity Corps in Hungary, I have designed and delivered both in‑person and online training sessions for teenagers, young adults, and adults. I am skilled at creating engaging learning environments, adapting content to diverse audiences, and facilitating discussions on intercultural communication, language learning, and international mobility.

Antonio D’Adamo

AFS Italy

As AFS active volunteer in the last 10 years and trainer at local regional and national level in AFS Intercultura Italy for the last 4 years, I have developed a good command of Global Citizenship topics and training skills. Recently I also got the PEAK facilitator certification; coupled with my professional experience and participation in several trainings in the company I work for on leadership develeopment skills, conflict management, strategic thinking, etc, I think I can give a valuable contribution as EPOT member – hopefully I will be able to participate in some activities during this second mandate, as sof far, unfortunately my work has not given to me the opportintity to do so.

Maria Papangeletou

AFS Greece

I have been a volunteer for AFS Greece for the last 3 years, gaining valuable knowledge on facilitating workshops on both a local and national level. Furthermore, I have participated in the PEACE CAMP twice as a trainer and gained valuable experience on an international level. My academic studies are in biological sciences; however, my interests vary, and I have designed workshops for the SDGs, Active Global Citizenship and management of social events. I would also find working on other topics, such as conflict resolution and communication styles, very interesting.

Thomas Noel

AFS France

As an enthusiastic member of France’s training team, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to share AFS’s magic while building skills in non-violent communication and advocacy. From delivering core mission training to rocking international events like Peace and CHAPEX last year, I love creating those “aha!” moments that stick. My superpower? Making learning both rigorous AND fun, who says personal growth can’t come with plenty of laughter and interactive chaos? I believe the best training happens when participants are engaged, energized, and maybe slightly out of their comfort zones!

Simona Tašková

AFS Slovakia

After being an AFS volunteer for some time I came across the courses of Foundations of ICL and PEAK which profoundly inspired me to become a facilitator. I’m personally interested in international relations, languages and getting to know different countries and cultures. I consider myself as an open-minded and talkative person, therefore I’m looking forward to delivering trainings and workshops addressing topics like active global citizenship, wellbeing or intercultural learning and last but not least expand my knowledge, meet new people and broaden my perspective.

Ege Pehlivanoglu

AFS Sweden

I am a biologist with a strong interest in humans and human behaviour, especially through social and cultural perspectives. I am particularly passionate about intercultural learning and cross-cultural conflict, and I have actively explored these topics by living in more than six countries as an adult through AFS and Erasmus+. Alongside my academic background, I am deeply engaged in non-formal education and enjoy designing and facilitating learning experiences with diverse facilitation groups. I value creating inclusive spaces for reflection, dialogue, and meaningful connection across cultures to overcome cross-cultural conflicts.

Lea Schaumann

AFS Germany

In my AFS work, I focus on training, conflict moderation and program design. My work centers around strengthening leadership and facilitation skills, intercultural competence and meaningful transfer into real-world volunteer practices.
With a professional background in Learning & Development, intercultural training and ethnography, I design learning processes that balance reflection, theory and hands-on practice and lots of active participation. My reward: when participants leave my workshops feeling empowered to drive change.

Lenka Kovářová

AFS Czech Republic

I have been in AFS for 4 years, less than 3 of them as a trainer. I was also in the AFS study program as a student, which I try to draw to my trainings. I train AFS newcomers in the Czech Republic, the role of Interviews, Buddies, training on different cultures and how the world still connects us all. Among other things, the flow of finances in AFS.
I try to be nice, smiling, empathetic in trainings and in life in general, and love our world and nature so much :-).

Orna O’Brien

AFS Ireland

I fell in love with being apart of a global communities at 16. I have tried to be expand my own community while inspiring and guiding others to step into the world of global citizenship. Being apart of AFS has allowed me to progress my awareness of life beyond my own bubble. Taking the AFS mission into action is always my aim and to have fun while doing that.