Team

Cristina is the analytical engine that attempts to bring some order to the beautiful chaos of human development. She has a degree in psychology and understands the machinery of the mind and behaviour. However, like all good academics, she prefers to work through problems using flow charts, team meetings, and grant applications. She is a whiz, organized, and young at heart. She leads projects and teams because, frankly, someone, after all, has to remember where the critical documents are stored.

Antonio is the person who makes sure that reality remains organized when the idealists are busy discussing non-formal education. He knows the greatest challenge of any project is simply getting the right number of… everything. His main focus is youth development. As a dedicated scout, he approaches every problem as if it might involve sudden rain, a lack of firewood, or an unexpected life lesson. He loves history, art, hiking, and snowboarding. This is the key to Antonio, the quiet contradiction: he values the slow contemplation of the past and the immediate, uncomplicated, ridiculous pleasure of going head-over-heels down a snowy slope. It is the only way a sensible person stays sane.

Gabriel believes that the fastest way to knowledge is through controlled chaos, which is why he uses theatre and movement in his work. He has spent his life working with groups that society tends to overlook—youth with disabilities, migrants, LGBTQI+ youth, and the Roma community—because he understands that the people on the sidelines are often the ones who see the clearest. Currently, he is a man of dual loyalties: teaching theatre in London and pursuing a PhD, exploring the potential of applied theatre in encouraging conversations on gender embodiment, wellbeing, and care among young men.

Jolien knows that all meaningful change happens somewhere between Human Geography, a stage production, and a psychiatric ward. She is active in these fields through study and work. She excels at creating meaningful moments for people: she sees that life is a series of unexpected events that require careful staging. She currently lives in a house with youth and the elderly. If you need a community event that feels like quality and not just busywork, find Jolien. She is the proof that the best kind of fairy dust is creativity, organization, and empathy.

Afroditi, known as Fruu, understands a fundamental truth of existence: people are much more likely to have an open, thoughtful conversation if they are eating something delicious. She is moved by manual creation, particularly vegetarian and vegan cuisine. She doesn’t just cook for sustenance; she cooks for life. Her dietary choice isn’t just a decision; it has become a flavorful extension of who she is.

Rositsa is interested in two things: playful interaction and the kind of conversation that gets right into the soul and tidies up a bit. She connects with people so effectively because she knows that everyone carries an inner beauty, often hidden beneath layers of that parts of life less beautiful. Through meditation, dance, and rituals, she works to support people to fully express themselves.

David is an explorer of diverse worlds, which means he is simultaneously discussing the latest in digital innovation and perhaps… astrophysics. He consumes knowledge faster than he consumes his favorite Italian pasta—which, for an Italian, is a truly terrifying speed. He is a professional youth worker who also happens to be a website wizard. He has traveled Europe wearing many hats, but they all revolve to the same role: the person who knows where the information is and how to share it.

Toni has mastered the art of nonviolent communication, which could mean she can say difficult truths. She is a social artist who treats film, theater, music, and writing not as hobbies but as necessary tools for experiential learning. She wears many hats in the Synchro team—co-facilitator, co-writer, logistics support—but her true role description is simpler: Creator of new experiences.

Roxana ensures that a group of people transforms into a community, primarily in Nijmegen. She works with everyone—young, adult, refugee, and newcomer—because she understands that everyone, regardless of where they came from, is just a person carrying a suitcase. Her favorite tool is storytelling, because it is the quickest way to unpack those suitcases and realize that everyone’s tale, when shared, builds the foundation of the community wall.

Elena is a quiet revolutionary who believes that the best way to deal with conflict, anger, and empowerment is to get someone to move their body. She has built a community in Amsterdam around Playfight. With a background in Non Violent Communication and dance, she knows that the body, always honest, holds the real key to feeling.