Razvan Azamfirei

I am a 21-year-old Romanian queer student, LGBTQIA+ activist, movies addict, traveller and have a big passion for photography. My work is based on organising events for my community and coordinating the volunteers in my organisation but I also organise a movie festival every year for teenagers to find a safe space for art, education and promoting themselves. I am always excited about new experiences and learning about cultures, people and ideas.

Paula Cerescu

My name is Paula Cerescu, I’m 19 years old and I live in Moldova. I started my activism volunteering at GENDERDOC-M Information Centre, the only organization protecting and advancing LGBT rights in our small country. Then, in 2018, I began working as the coordinator of the LGBT Community Development Programme, so my main engagement is to coordinate, organize and inform about events that aim to empower the LGBTQ+ community.

I believe that youth are already changing the world for the better and that a lack of experience can be a greater resource than existing experience, that is closed to anything new. I also believe in human’s flexibility and ability to change, as well as in the power of doubting our beliefs from time to time.

I highly value non-formal education and last year I participated at the Activist Academy, which contributed to my formation and development as an activist.

This is why this year I decided to apply as a mentor, and I’m really looking forward to it!

Louis Goddard-Glen

My name’s Louis Goddard-Glen, I’m from the UK and I can’t wait to be a mentor for this years Activist Academy! I’m a budding young activist of 19 years of age, aiming for equality in the UK. A large problem at the moment in the UK is complacency, which I aim to phase out and make aware problems the UK are facing in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. I’m interested in LGBTQ+ activism (clearly), environmental activism, and other forms of social activism.

Nina Huovinen

My name is Nina and I’m a 24 year-old Finnish activist living and studying in South of Sweden. I have vast experience in NGOs and student politics and my queer activism journey started a few years ago from the LGBTQIA+ Student association at my university. I have since gotten involved on a national level and am currently the president of the Swedish Federation of LGBTQIA+ Students SFQ. I love traveling, signing up for new study programs and courses – and usually also completing them and last but not least dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages!

Giorgi Kakabadze

I am a 19-year-old student, queer activist, and an animal lover from Georgia. I am passionate about volunteering, which is how I started my involvement in an NGO – Equality Movement, where I work for a project focusing on HIV-related issues among key populations. My participation in IGLYO’s Activist Academy in 2018 improved my numerous skills and helped me connect with interested and like-minded people. I hope to ensure the same experience for participants in 2019 and this is my motivation to be a mentor for the Activist Academy this year.

My other interests include hiking, camping, traveling. I love experiencing different cultures and learning new languages.

IGLYO is co-funded by the Rights Equality and Citizenship (REC) programme 2014-2020 of the European Union and the Government of the Netherlands. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of IGLYO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission or the Government of the Netherlands.