Our Team

Vasiliki Makri

She was born in Greece and studied Development Economics in Thessaloniki. She continued her education with a Master’s degree in European Studies from KU Leuven Belgium where she specialized in Sustainability. Her interests made her travel all over Greece and Europe and she has taken part in numerous youth exchanges, training courses and volunteer projects. She has experience in Erasmus+ youth projects from her internship at NGOs and from her personal life. She enjoys nature very much, music and the company of her friends.

Together they decided to create Gate 40 as a place for other young people to find and pursue their passion!

Michela Gennari

Born in a little city by the sea she moved to study Internationl and Diplomatic Science until she got the Master's degree in International Relations after her Erasmus at Tallinn University (Estonia). During her studies she could develope her interest for Middle east and Eastern Europe especially for what concernes democratc processes and migration flows.

She did severals stage in immigration's offices until she decide to leave for an EVS in Thessaloniki (Greece) following her passion for human rights and education.

Matteo Scarpa

Born and raised in Salerno (Italy), Matteo studied Political Sciences and International Relations at the University of Salerno and European Studies as exchange student at The Hague University (The Netherlands). He completed his Education with the Qualification as “Europrogettista – Agente per lo sviluppo”. He has been actively involved in the NGO field since many years as youth worker and project manager, travelling and volunteering around Europe (Love Portugal and portugues language!).

Sports lover (football and basket mostly), music passionate (guitar!) now settled in Thessaloniki (Greece) cultivating a dream. Together, on this Gate40.

Philipa Nikolova

She studied Cultural Studies in Sofia University, Philosophy as an exchange student in Universidad Complutense de Madrid and did a Master degree in European Studies in KU Leuven. After she worked as an English teacher in the Teach for all network dedicated to the mission of providing equal access for every child to quality education. She has been actively involved in volunteering activities in a center for culture and debate in Sofia, in a refugee center in Thessaloniki.

Philipa has a particular interest in the field of human rights and wrote her Master thesis on the Syrian crisis

Riccardo Rossi

He studied Political Science and International Relations at the University of Perugia. During his studies, he developed an interest in migration, human Rights, cultural diversity while doing internships with two NGOs. His interests took him to Guatemala, Spain, Bulgaria and other countries where he worked on human rights promotion field. In September 2013, he started doing EVS in Thessaloniki and worked afterwards for an Italian Foundation as a Cultural Ambassador.Tavelling, history, cooking and drinking good wine with friends are his passions.

All of them reflect the deep meaning of Gate40!!!