Our Team
Dr Giuliana Fenech
Dr Giuliana Fenech is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Malta, specialising in work involving children and young adult literature and citizenship, agency, creative protest, and activism. She combines research with cultural and artistic community projects involving stories, multimedia, cultural heritage, and youth.
Among these projects, as part of an Erasmus K2 project on Creative SDGs led by Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Malta, Giuliana directed a team of researchers and storytellers researching the representation of girls in science stories for children. In May 2022, Giuliana convened the circuit conference The Child and the Book, themed, ‘The Role of the Child as Citizen: Constructing Childhood through Agency and Activism’ in Malta. She is the editor of two forthcoming volumes; ‘The Role of the Child as Citizen (2023)’ and ‘Geopolitics, Activism, and Citizenship in Children’s and Young Adult Literature’ (2024).
Additionally, Giuliana runs a storytelling organisation, Lignin Stories, which has worked with diverse groups of children and youths in Malta and various other European countries, including Italy and Scotland.
Principal Investigator
University of Malta, Malta
Dr Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak
Dr Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak is Associate Professor of Literature at the Institute of English Studies, University of Wrocław.
She has published on children’s culture, new materialism, and posthumanism. Intergenerational Solidarity in Children’s Literature and Film (2021), which Justyna co-edited with Zoe Jacques, received the 2023 Edited Book Award from the International Research Society for Children’s Literature. She also co-edited (with Irena Barbara Kalla) Children’s Literature and Intergenerational Relationships: Encounters of the Playful Kind (2021) and Rulers of Literary Playgrounds: Politics of Intergenerational Play in Children’s Literature (2021), and (with Macarena García-González) Children’s Cultures after Childhood (2023).
In 2017-2021, Justyna served on the IRSCL executive board. In 2018-2024, she was the University of Wrocław coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus International Master: Children’s Literature, Media and Culture. Justyna is also a Fulbright, Kosciuszko, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow and a grantee of the Polish Foundation for Science and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.
Lead Investigator
University of Wrocław, Poland
Dr Farriba Schulz
Dr Farriba Schulz is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Universität Potsdam. She was the Visiting Professor of Primary Education in the Department of German at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, and worked as a guest lecturer at Freie Universität Berlin.
Her main research interest centres on construction of childhoods, (visual) literacy and inclusion, working collaboratively together with schools, libraries, museums, the international literature festival berlin (ilb) and artists.
She’s worked in the past on several projects that explore issues of ‘diversity’ and inclusivity working with children’s literature, including an international research project with Maureen Maisha Auma and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold.
She is a jury member of the GEW literature award “Lesepeter”, a member of the advisory board of the circuit conference, The Child and the Book, and co-editor of the book Political Changes and Transformations in Twentieth and Twenty-first Century Children’s Literature (2023).
Lead Investigator
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
Nicky Parker
Nicky Parker is a specialist in children’s literature and human rights, who has worked with Amnesty International for over 20 years. She has developed many books and literary projects using a human rights lens, including We Are All Born Free: the UDHR in Pictures (2008), published in 35 languages. With Cheltenham Festivals, she co-created ‘Words That Burn’ (2016), a spoken word resource for school students to explore and express human rights through poetry.
She established the Amnesty CILIP Honour (2016-18), a human rights commendation for books on the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist. She was lead writer of Know Your Rights and Claim Them: A Guide for Youth (2021), with Angelina Jolie and Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC and is the author of These Rights Are Your Rights: An empowering guide for children everywhere (2024). From 2016-22 she was Chair of Trustees of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) and is on the steering group of Reflecting Realities, a change-making annual survey of ethnic representation in British children’s books. She is a trustee of English PEN.
Lead Consultant
Amnesty International, Poland
Magdalena Kozlowska
Co-investigator
Poland
Giuliana Barbaro-Sant
Giuliana Barbaro-Sant holds a Masters in English and the Media from the Department of English at the University of Malta. In her role as Research Support Officer for the Seen and Heard project, she manages the creative department.
She is involved in the creation, marketing, management and development of cultural and artistic projects, that ranges from community projects at grassroots level, managing the internationalisation initiatives for Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture, up to the management of Creative Europe and Erasmus+ projects.
Currently, Giuliana is the lead responsible for the development of projects and initiatives at the National Agency for the Performing Arts (Malta). Giuliana was a member of the organising team of a number of conferences hosted by the Department of English, with the most recent one being The Child and The Book Conference 2022.
Research Support Officer
Malta
Sandy Calleja Portelli
Sandy Calleja Portelli is a Research Support Officer with the Department of English at the University of Malta. She has a Diploma in Social Studies (Gender & Development), a BA (Hons) in English and a MA in English, Culture and the Media.
Sandy has experience in working with schools to coordinate storytelling as part of the Culture Pass programme organised by the Malta Arts Council. She was previously involved as a researcher in an Erasmus K2 project led by Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Malta, researching the representation of girls in science in children’s literature. Sandy was a member of the organising team of The Child and The Book Conference 2022.
Research Support Officer
Malta
Charlie Cauchi
Charlie Cauchi is a British-Maltese interdisciplinary artist, published researcher and filmmaker.
She combines documentary, research and fiction to create hybrid forms of expression. Charlie holds a BA and a MA in Film Studies from Queen Mary University of London.
She has worked in the production department of several foreign productions. However, in 2017, she founded Sajjetta, an independent audiovisual production company. She was selected as part of the CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator Lab 2019 and is currently working on a feature-length documentary, Taurodont, supported by Arts Council Malta.
Charlie is also the co-founder and curator of Rosa Kwir, Malta’s first LGBTQI+ gallery and archive, working with artist Romeo Roxman Gatt. Her video work forms part of Malta’s national collection. Charlie’s solo shows include Backlot (Spazju Kreattiv, 2023. Malta), Scheherazade (Valletta Contemporary, 2019. Malta), and Latitude 36 (Blitz, 2018. Malta). Her work has formed part of group shows in Malta, Vienna and Berlin.
Audiovisual Director & Filmmaker
Uli Decker
Uli Decker was born and raised in Bavaria, South Germany. After a year abroad in Brazil’s Amazon region, she studied Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Literature, Theater and Film Studies at King’s College London, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Universidad Complutense, Madrid. Master’s degree in Creative Documentary Film at Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona.
Since 2009 own short films, TV reports, documentaries as director and cinematographer. Her most recent movie “ANIMA – My Father’s Dresses”, a hybrid documentary about love, family secrets and gender roles, received many national and international awards, among them Max Ophüls Audience and Jury Award, Bavarian Film Award 2022, Best International Documentary at FIDBA, Buenos Aires, Best Documentary at Bend Film Festival US and many others. Uli Decker lives in Berlin, works as a film director and author and teaches film at schools and universities.
Filmmaker
Ed Dingli
Ed Dingli is an illustrator & designer whose work is driven by socio-political, cultural and environmental subjects. He feels driven to respond to worldly injustices with vibrant visuals that aim to connect with, support or inspire viewers.
His style is continually developing as he is actively experimenting with form and technique, using different methods of printmaking and exploring both analogue and digital processes. Following graduation from Malta’s Institute of Art & Design, Ed moved to the UK to continue his studies in graphic communication at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), where he culminated his studies with a thesis on social responsibility & ethics in design. Following this, Ed worked for London based creative studio Nice and Serious, where he worked on creative campaigns for the United Nations Development Programme, WWF and Refugee Action among others.
More recently, Ed moved to Portugal where he works as an independent artist and freelance illustrator with a focus on creating impactful visuals for causes including human rights, climate action and environmental regeneration.
Art Director
Chris Riddell
A multi-award winning artist and one of the UK’s top contemporary illustrators and cartoonists, Chris Riddell is often celebrated for his inclusion of themes of ‘otherness’ and tolerance in books for young audiences without ever becoming didactic or pedantic. His own books include the highly-acclaimed Ottoline titles and the 2013 Costa Children’s Book Award-winning Goth Girl. He was appointed the UK Children’s Laureate in 2015 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in children’s literature.
Credit: Macmillan Children’s Books (2017)
Illustrator
Sita Brahmachari
An internationally award-winning British author of children’s and young adult novels, novellas, short stories, poetry and plays, Sita has been Book Trust Writer in Residence and an Amnesty International UK Ambassador. She is Associate Lecturer in Children’s and YA Literature at Goldsmiths University and is Writer in Residence at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. She is also a Royal Literary Fellow, a Fellow of The Society of Authors and an Honorary Member of the Youth Libraries Group.
Sita’s books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Award, Carnegie and UKLA awards. In 2018 she was honoured by The International Board of Books for Young People. In 2023 she was shortlisted for the Ruth Rendell Literacy Award. She has an MA in Arts Education and has worked widely in diverse communities to mentor new writing. Her workshops with refugee children contributed to the story of the globally award-winning animation Footsteps on The Wind (2020). She runs many creative workshops and speaks regularly at national and international festivals and in schools.
Author
Andres Felipe Algeciras Marquez
A skilled professional in audiovisual media, specialising in motion graphics and video editing, Andres sees animation and film as magical tools that infuse everyday life with enchantment, connecting human stories and broadening our perspectives. His journey began at Politecnico Grancolombiano University, where he cultivated his skills and creativity, later venturing into diverse collaborations with social and cultural institutions in Colombia, particularly in ecological and musical spheres.
In 2017, Andres relocated to Malta to immerse himself in its dynamic film industry, as a versatile editor, motion graphic designer and digital image technician, contributing to both commercial and independent films across fiction and non-fiction genres. His talents have been showcased at prolific events such as the Valletta Film Festival, Kinemastik Short Film Festival, and Valletta Pageant of the Seas. Beyond his professional pursuits, Andres revels in cultural exploration, forging personal connections across continents through his multicultural marriage and immersive experiences at Latin American and European film festivals.
Audiovisual Artist
Evi Hellebaut
Evi Hellebaut is an architect and freelance designer whose creative journey is fueled by a deep commitment to socio-environmental causes. Her diverse work spans from digital design to transforming physical spaces.
Collaborating with young entrepreneurs, visionaries, activists, and fellow architects, Evi aims to translate their narratives into visually captivating stories that resonate with a broad audience. After obtaining her Masters in Architecture, she became a proud member of the Baladi collective —a creative studio in the service of nature. Evi co-founded Greening the Camps, an organisation dedicated to designing and building community-based urban farms in Jordan, actively contributing to sustainable solutions for communities.
Using web design, architectural interventions, and illustrations as her tools, Evi aims to inspire and showcase the beautiful synergy between people, spaces, and the Earth.
Web Designer & Developer
Natalia Jerzak
Natalia Jerzak is a graphic designer and educator. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Wroclaw. She was awarded in several categories, including “Best Diploma: Graphic Design” of the Krakow Triennial of Graphic Arts, “Best Master Thesis in the Field of Culture” by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and “30 Creative Wroclaw”. She has been conducting creative workshops since 2009, working with both children and adults, including groups experiencing homelessness, leukemia, war and disability. In 2023, she visited Lower Silesian elementary schools to teach children from smaller towns and villages about their rights. As the creator of the “SitoOgrodnicy” project, she founded a screen printing studio run by men experiencing the crisis of homelessness. In 2023, she became a certified WenDo trainer. Since then she has been teaching women and girls how to take care of their boundaries and thus make their lives more comfortable and safer. As a member of the HerStory Foundation, she is involved in educational projects against violence and discrimination. She also owns a personal brand, BananaMama, where she designs colorful socks, illustrations and logos for brands, institutions and individual clients. In her free time, she walks with her dog, reads, and rides her bike.
Graphic Designer
behance.net/nataliajerzak
Katrina Conrad
Katrina Conrad is a student at the University of Malta, currently reading for a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations (Hons.) and English. Her academic journey is driven by a deep interest in human rights, development, and the role of the European Union in global affairs. Passionate about advocating for positive change, Katrina actively participates in projects that focus on social justice, growth, and policy reform. With a strong commitment to understanding and addressing international challenges, she aims to further her studies in the field and pursue a career that promotes and aids sustainable development and the protection of human rights worldwide. She is currently assisting the Maltese academic team in conducting research and running the mentoring programme for the Seen and Heard Project.
Student Mentor
Malta
Amy Calleja
Amy Calleja is a BSc. Computer Engineering student at the University of Malta and works in the field of Quantum Cybersecurity. She has a longstanding interest in youth rights and young people’s freedom of expression, currently serving as the Director for Internal Affairs in Malta’s National Youth Council (KNŻ). She has also been IAESTE Malta’s National Secretary since 2022.
Amy has participated in 3 editions of Malta’s National Youth Parliament & represented Malta in the Model European Parliament. She was also one of the founding members of Malta’s Commonwealth Youth Taskforce and part of the National Youth Council’s Taskforce for Civic Education. Most recently, she represented Malta in the EU Youth Conference in Alicante. Amy’s previous mentorship experience involves being an Education Mentor with Imagi giving python workshops, mentoring participants in the Mini European Assembly and forming part of IAESTE’s global Workshop Leader Pool. She is currently assisting the Maltese academic team in conducting research and running the mentoring programme for the Seen and Heard Project.
Mentor
Malta
Ruby Peresso
Ruby Peresso is a student at Royal Holloway University of London, reading for a BA (Hons.) in English. She is interested in human rights and community development and the ways in which storytelling can help to bring people together. She has interned at Heritage Malta, assisting on an educational outreach programme for children, participated in EU funded projects such as ‘Where To? Stories of Migration and Belonging’, and volunteered at institutions such as Angela House in Malta, where she spent time with children in care, helping them to complete their schoolwork. Ruby is currently assisting the Maltese academic team in conducting research and running the mentoring programme for the Seen and Heard Project.
Mentor
Malta
Martyna Stec
Mentor
Wrocław, Poland
Tanasgol Sabbagh
Poet and Performer
Berlin, Germany | @tanasgold
Zoltan Kunckel
Zoltan Kunckel is an artist from Venezuela with a multicultural background, which has provided him with experiences, inspirations, and motivations to explore the creative potential of various media and materials simultaneously—ranging from video art, photography, and installations to sculptural works in steel and glass.
He studied photography and sculpture at Moholy-Nagy University, Budapest, and Art in Context at UdK Berlin. His work focuses on abstract sculptures made from steel and glass, inspired by natural forms, as well as interactive installations, video art, and performances reflecting on national and cultural identity, migration, and the emergence of structures of power.
Artist
Berlin, Germany | @kunckel
Laura Kirschstein
Laura Kirschstein is a student at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where she is currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education in German, Mathematics and Physical Education. She is very excited about her future as a teacher and is aware of the difficulties and challenges that schools face in terms of human rights, justice and equality. As a future teacher, she wants to make the topics of human rights and equality transparent for the students. For this reason, she wanted to take part in the Seen and Heard research project to give children the feeling of being seen and heard. She wants to take her experiences from the project back to school. Laura is currently supporting the team at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in documenting and organizing workshops for the Seen and Heard project.
Student Assistant
Berlin, Germany
