Pool of Trainers

IYNF Pool of Trainers

The IYNF Pool of Trainers brings together both junior and experienced trainers who have been actively involved in international and national youth activities within International Young Naturefriends (IYNF). The pool reflects a wide range of thematic expertise, methodological approaches, and lived experience in non-formal education, youth participation, and international cooperation.

All trainers in the pool have previously worked with IYNF and are familiar with its values, educational approaches, and commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and youth-led processes. The pool also serves as a space for learning, mentoring, and professional development within IYNF. Below you will find detailed profiles of the trainers, including their areas of expertise and contact information. You are welcome to contact them directly to collaborate on training, youth exchanges, seminars, or other educational activities aligned with IYNF values.

Experienced Trainers

Experienced trainers have designed, organised, and facilitated full international youth activities, taking responsibility for the entire process, from programme development and educational design to facilitation, evaluation, and follow-up. They are used to working in international teams, supporting group dynamics, and adapting methods to diverse learning needs and contexts.

Junior Trainers

Junior trainers have facilitated workshops or specific sessions within international IYNF youth activities. They bring fresh perspectives, strong facilitation skills, and hands-on experience in non-formal education, often working alongside experienced trainers and international teams.

Experienced Trainers

Ana Teresa Santos

Country of Residence: Portugal

Languages: English, Portuguese, Italian

Topics: Regenerative Cultures & Community Development, Nature-based Learning, Human Rights, Circular Economy, Theatre and Music for Personal & Social Change

Ana Teresa is an activist and facilitator with a background in sociocultural education and lifelong learning, who has been working in non-formal education since 2006 and supports collaborative, participatory and transformative learning processes through local and international community projects.

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Esther Vallado

Country of Residence: Spain

Languages: English, Spanish

Topics: Sustainability, nature connection, systems thinking, eco-literacy, burn-out prevention

Esther is a freelance eco-trainer and facilitator with a background in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, who has worked with leading environmental organisations and designs non-formal learning experiences that explore systems thinking, Buddhist philosophy and pathways toward life-sustaining social change.

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Nikolas Schall

Country of Residence: Germany

Languages: English, German, French

Topics: Solidarity & global partnership, anti-discrimination, anti-racism, climate justice, outdoor education

I am a certified experiential educator. I have a doctorate in political anthropology. And I am a trainer in the field of diversity-sensitive (transformative) global education, with long-term experience in non-formal education.

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Tali Padan

Country of Residence: Denmark

Languages: English

Topics: Intercultural training, diversity & difference training, democracy education, conflict management, and transformative learning.

Tali Padan is an intercultural practitioner and trainer with over a decade of experience, who has worked internationally on conflict management, democracy and human rights education, and now directs Mellem Education while researching transformative and reflexive learning processes in education.

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Noa Philippon Salinas

Country of Residence: Spain

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Topics: Sustainability, Climate Justice, Global Education, Interculturality, Inclusion, Personal Development, Entrepreneurship, Connection with Nature, Languages, Project Management

Noa is a trainer and project manager with a strong focus on non-formal environmental education, who has been active in the field since 2012 and brings a calm, caring and positive presence to international training and education projects.

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Daria Gartsmann

Country of Residence: Portugal

Languages: English, Russian

Topics: Nature, natural conservation, environmental education, sustainability, climate change, green skills, mental health, healthy lifestyle

Daria is a project manager, and trainer with experience in formal and non-formal education, who works extensively in Erasmus+ projects and specialises in nature, sustainability, climate change and healthy lifestyles while bringing creativity and fresh methods to every project she develops.

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Flora Ciupke

Country of Residence: Germany

Languages: English, German

Topics: Outdoor education, creative, culture, as well as civic education, and sustainable tourism

Flora (Fleur) is a trainer in creative, artistic and experiential non-formal education and a yoga teacher, who designs indoor and outdoor learning processes grounded in experiential methods, sustainability and movement, integrating creativity, natural resources and embodied practices to support balanced learning in diverse educational and intercultural training contexts.

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Carlos Reis

Country of Residence: Portugal

Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish

Topics: Non-formal Education, Environment and Sustainability, Intercultural Learning, Youth Work, Volunteering, Team Building and Group Dynamics

Carlos is a freelance trainer and international project coordinator with extensive experience in non-formal education, who has been active in Erasmus+ since 2010 in roles ranging from participant and volunteer to mentor, coordinator and facilitator.

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Inês Cerca

Country of Residence: Portugal

Languages: English

Topics: Project management, Human rights, Gender equality, Recognition of NF Learning, Youth exchanges

Ines is an experienced trainer and youth worker with a strong focus on non-formal education in youth work and adult education, with experience in project management, youth exchanges and international cooperation, and a particular interest in human rights, gender equality and the recognition of non-formal learning.

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Junior Trainers

Enrico Turci

Country of Residence: Italy

Languages: English, Italian

Topics: Sustainability, History, Politics, Geography, Team building

Enrico (he/him) was an ESC volunteer at IYNF through its Italian section, GIAN, with a background in modern history and interests in politics, geography and environmentalism, who designs non-formal education workshops on sustainability and civic engagement, guided by values of solidarity, collective action and mutual respect.

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Francesco Mangiarini

Country of Residence: Denmark

Languagses: English, Italian

Topics: Sustainability, climate justice, politics, communication, youth participation, volunteering, and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Francesco is a trainer and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator with a strong interest in alternative and participatory learning approaches, who designs interactive and engaging learning experiences and has experience in sustainability, climate justice, politics, communication, youth participation and volunteering.

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Nazila Aliyeva

Country of Residence: Azerbaijan

Languages: English, Azerbaijani, Turkish

Topics: Ecotourism, Climate Justice, Youth Empowerment, Youth Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development

Nazila is a youth worker dedicated to sustainable development and youth empowerment, who has several years of experience fostering a connection with nature and promoting sustainable practices among young people through collaborative and educational initiatives.

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Nazarena Plumb

Country of Residence: France

Languages: English, French

Topics: Gender equality, Climate justice, and Crisis management. Main field of expertise: Youth in Europe.

Nazarena is an educator with experience working with young people on the Sustainable Development Goals and academic training in humanitarianism and risk and crisis engineering, who combines strong thematic expertise with a collaborative and reflective approach to non-formal education, youth engagement and international training projects.

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Mbaye Wane

Country of Residence: France

Languages: French

Topics: Biodiversity conservation, sustainable and urban agriculture, waste management and recycling, landscape design, water conservation and management, youth work

Mbaye is an environmental trainer with experience in biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management and recycling, and water conservation, working through non-formal approaches and working with young people.

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Justyna Sadczuk

Country of Residence: Poland

Languages: English, French, Polish

Topics: Effective communication, Connection to nature, Art and creativity, Self-discovery, Social inclusion and awareness

Justyna is a multidisciplinary workshop leader who creates inclusive and safe non-formal education spaces, designing arts- and nature-based learning experiences that address self-awareness, mental health, communication, inclusion and creativity through theatre, with a strong focus on inclusive language and participants’ well-being.

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Sara Salgado

Country of Residence: Portugal

Languages: English, Portuguese

Topics: Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainability & Climate Change, Psychology

Sara has facilitated Climate Cafés focusing on eco-anxiety, emotional responses to the climate crisis and collective coping strategies, and has led workshops on climate change and intersectionality within IYNF activities, creating reflective and participatory spaces that support critical dialogue, mutual learning and emotional resilience.

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Pablo Sánchez Argüello

Country of Residence: Spain

Languages: English, Spanish

Topics: Biology, Reduction of environmental impact of international youth mobilities, Cinema and non-formal education

Pablo is a biologist based in Spain with a strong interest in plants, sustainable development and environmental education, who enjoys bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to share learning experiences, creative methods and practical actions in support of the planet and collective responsibility in action.

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