Want to know who are there behind the Restoration Academy project? Below the core project team members from each partner organization introduce themselves with their own words by telling shortly about their backgrounds, hobbies and role in the project.
Sanna Lindgren (she/her)
Youth Academy, Finland
“I have been working in different positions at Youth Academy since 2019. Previously I have also worked with, for example, communications on sustainable development and volunteered with different internationally oriented youth organizations in Finland. My academic background is a mix of social sciences and linguistics: I have a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Spanish language, besides which I have studied political and cultural sciences, development studies and international law. In my free time, I do a lot of sports and enjoy spending time outdoors.”
What is your role in Restoration Academy?
“I’m the project manager for Restoration Academy so I bear the responsibility for overall coordination and communication. I also work a lot on ideating and coordinating our co-creation processes to workshop, collect and design all the information and experiences into well-functioning outputs.”
Contact:
sanna.lindgren@nuortenakatemia.fi
Hanna Pöllänen (she/her)
The Finnish Nature Association, Finland
“I studied geography (MSc) focusing on global change studies. I’ve been volunteering in environmental NGO’s past four years and through that path happily ended up working in Luontoliitto since summer 2023. Besides Luontoliitto I work and volunteer around traditional sailing ships, which includes sailing, renovation work (and also a lot of toilet cleaning etc.). Additionally, I spend most my free time doing outdoor hobbies or cycling from place to place.”
What is your role in Restoration Academy?
“I’m Luontoliitto’s (the Finnish Nature Associations) coordinator for the project and thus responsible for, for example, organizing the first nature restoration camp in Finland. We also have a major role in working on the operations model.”
Contact:
hanna.pollanen@luontoliitto.fi
Frankie Turk (she/her)
RE-PEAT, the Netherlands
“I am interested in how to develop the kinds of care, community and imagination needed to tackle the most complex and interwoven issues of today. My background is quite varied. Currently, I am studying an MSc in Land & Water Management, preceded by a BA in Liberal Arts and Science (with a major in Film and a minor in Environmental Science) and I have Foundation in Art. My professional journey includes the co-founding of RE-PEAT in 2019 and working for Wetlands International as a consultant and Peatland Policy Officer. In my free time, I like to chit-chat with my flat mates, write, and dance (I have recently started swing dancing, which I love).”
What is your role in Restoration Academy?
“My role in the Restoration Academy is to help coordinate the Youth Advisory Board and integrate more young people into the project process. RE-PEAT is also responsible for organizing a nature restoration camp in the Netherlands.”
Contact:
frankie_turk@re-peat.earth
Sofia Koudouni (she/her)
KMOP, Greece
“I studied English Language and Literature at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and did my master’s in European Studies at the University of Amsterdam. I have been working as a Project Officer at KMOP for half a year now, mainly focusing on climate-related projects as well as youth participation and civic engagement. My hobbies include reading, dancing and attending festivals or other kinds of events about social issues.”
What is your role in Restoration Academy?
“I have been the main responsible for all the research we conducted within the framework of Restoration Academy, always in close collaboration with the rest of the project partners.”
Contact:
koudouni.s@kmop.org
Martin Kučera (he/him)
Strom Života, Slovakia
“I studied IT and Economics at Masaryk University in Brno and finished my master’s in taxation and tax advisory at Economic University of Bratislava. I have been considering working for an NGO for a few years. I started to work for Strom Života in February of this year as my attempt to do the work that has visible positive impact and makes the world a better a place to live in. I like to spend time in nature (hiking or biking), I also like to travel, drink beer with friends, create my own chilly hot sauces and I make amazing vegan lasagna.”
What is your role in Restoration Academy?
“I’m project coordinator for Strom Života, who is responsible for, for example, producing demonstration videos on nature restoration camps organized during the project, as well as organizing one nature restoration camp in Slovakia.”
Contact:
martin.kucera@stromzivota.sk
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.