There have been a few changes in our team lately, Good Energies Alliance Ireland is proud to announce that Simona Fondate joins our team as Development Officer! While working with us as volunteers, Simona proved herself as an essential part of the crew, and was therefore recruited as an employee of GEAI.

In this interview, we would like to explore how GEAI helped Simona on her professional journey and what this stage of life means to her.

Ilya: Why did you choose to dedicate your life to environmental justice? It isn’t a very common specialisation among young people.
Simona: My passion for environmental protection was born in me during my Master’s. I was following a course on environmental and agricultural sustainability. These were subjects I had heard before but that I had never delved into and having the opportunity to study these issues made me realise how difficult it is to learn about matters such as climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and deforestation. Nowadays, most people have at least once in their life heard of climate change; but how many of these people know what it is, what caused it, and what we can do about it.

Ilya: That’s great! And why choose GEAI of all places?
Simona: After specialising in sustainable development at university, I looked for a concrete opportunity to disseminate this information and to reach as many people as possible. GEAI is one of the best-known NGOs on a national level and what prompted me to choose it were their tangible efforts and remarkable results – first of which, the ban on fracking. I was offered the opportunity to work in the branch of communication and social media and therefore to share with the whole world what is happening in the environmental field and what governments and organisations are doing to protect our planet. This is why I chose GEAI.

Ilya: How do you feel about your new position? What are the challenges and hopes?
Simona: I must admit that I am very grateful for my promotion and that I did not expect it. It is a new challenge and represents for me a great opportunity for growth. Some of my hopes are to do a good job! That’s helping new volunteers make the most of their experience, acquire new skills and follow through with new projects in the field of environmental sustainability. As far as the challenges are concerned, I know they will not be few, but I also know that they will be exciting and a great chance to learn.

Ilya: How did GEAI help you gain and improve your skills and expertise?

Simona: When my ESC project began, I had a lot of theoretical knowledge but little practical experience. I knew that what I wanted to do was communicate and share news and information relating to environmental protection with the virtual community. GEAI gave me the tools to do this, starting with English. Anyone who is not a native English speaker knows how complicated it can be to communicate effectively and understandably. Looking back, I have seen tangible improvements right away. No doubt, ESC at GEAI is a great tool for professional improvement! With the help and support of our directors, I had a chance to take a journalism course at an Irish University, which surely made a difference.  In addition, I have attended multiple classes, including Social Media Management, Communication, and Design Thinking. This volunteer experience was extremely formative and offered me opportunities that I never imagined.

Ilya: What are your plans for the near future?
Simona: My short-term plans at the moment are to grow as a person and as a professional. I understood that I love working with young people and for the sake of the environment. Also, I would like to stay in Ireland and discover all its treasures and the magic that make it special.

Ilya: Thanks for the great chat, Simona! You are surely an inspiring example of a young leader. As for our readers, stay tuned and stay safe.

Written by: Ilya Linevich