Meet the team!
GEOGRAPHER AND ITALIAN L2 TEACHER
Sofia De Matteis
Teaching is always supervised and co-led by Dr Sofia De Matteis, a graduate in Classical Literature and Geography and Spatial Processes,and a certified teacher of Italian as a second language. Sofia grew up in Sicily and moved to Bologna to pursue her university studies, during which time she
took part in various social and environmental justice movements. Together with her partner, she developed the idea for Avamposto.
CONI Level 1 pack-donkey technician and farmer
Raffaele Dolce
The donkey introduction workshops are designed and run by Dr. Raffaele Dolce, a graduate in Philosophy and a CONI Level I packhorse technician. Raffaele grew up in Santa Caterina dello Ionio and attended university in Bologna, where he met Sofia, with whom he returned to Calabria in 2020.
Trained at SIFE – SCUOLA ITALIANA FINALIZZATA EQUIDI (Italian School for Equine Studies), he started the Avamposto ethological donkey farm and, at the same time, his own farm.
botanist
Giulia Montepaone
The botany workshops are organised by Dr Giulia Montepaone, graduate in agricultural science and technology. Giulia’s activities promote manual skills, observation skills and a sense of responsibility. Each workshop is an opportunity for interdisciplinary learning, integrating science, environmental education and creativity.
Each session is designed to guide children on a journey through plants, colours and different shapes, where curiosity becomes discovery and nature is transformed into an experience to be enjoyed with the hands and eyes.
Psychologist
Teresa Pologruto
The educational activities are coordinated by Dr Teresa Pologruto, a clinical and health psychologist and family therapist with a systemic-relational approach currently in training. Teresa supports
families by offering tools and strategies to strengthen parent-child relationships and promote emotionally aware education. Through joint meetings and activities, she fosters the creation of a bond between nature and the educational experience, encouraging sensory exploration and
creative discovery of the outside world. Together with the team, she responds to the specific needs
of children by promoting an inclusive environment that respects time and space.