Leading activities for 6-8 year olds
Claudia Miranda
Originally from South Africa, but with Portuguese parents, Claudia leads all recreative and academic activities with our 6-8 year olds. She has a background in teaching children with special needs.
Activities with 6-9 year olds
Filipa Lopes
Filipa, from Portugal, has a B.A. in Bio-Technology from the University of Aveiro. In September of 2026 she started working with our younger children in the Bensafrim hub. She loves trekking, photography, climbing and sailing.
Lead for Teen Program Planning
Wendy Coleman
With an MBA & an MEd (Harvard), Wendy is our teen program developer. Her emphasis lies in encouraging youth to explore their individual identities within the context of community.
Communications
Holly Partridge
After traversing the world on a bicycle, Cornwall native Holly settled in Portugal in 2016 together with husband Dave and their two daughters.
Pedagogy Co-ordinator
Mirka Hlavacova
Mirka oversees the project-based learning pedagogy for the younger children. Originally from the Czech Republic, with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Education, she has also completed Outdoor Education Leadership Training.
Activities Leader for Teens
Marian Dohm
Marian Dohm, originally from Germany, is the lead for our young adults. He shares his passion for sports, social studies, and the pathways program which asks teens to think about where they see themselves in 5 and 10 years time.
Finances and Administration
Tunje Berns
Tunje, from Switzerland, first moved to Portugal in the mid 1980s. She manages all things financial and administrative for the association.