Founded in 2018 in the Netherlands, In Touch is a non-profit organization driven by a passionate team of educators, artists, and community builders.
Though small in size, our core team brings together a diverse range of expertise, spanning education, gender studies, migration, and intercultural dialogue. We believe in the power of collaboration and actively work with international partners, local organizations, and dedicated volunteers to develop meaningful projects that foster inclusion, awareness, and positive social change.
At the heart of our work is a shared commitment to creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and grow—whether through workshops, artistic initiatives, or educational programs. Our strength lies in our ability to bridge diverse perspectives, combining research, creativity, and lived experience to address complex social challenges.
Meet the people who make In Touch what it is today!
Dora Djamila Mester
Founder | Researcher | Trainer | Facilitator
Dora is the founder of In Touch, specializing in intercultural and intergenerational dialogue through creative learning.
With expertise in gender, sexuality, and social inclusion, she develops programs for educators and social professionals, integrating experiential methods into her work. Beyond education, Dora is passionate about gardening as a tool for community-building and healing, which she applies in projects like SET Community Garden. She has led and contributed to numerous European partnership projects, bringing innovative social education approaches to life.
Vaida Šikšnytė
Project Manager | Researcher
Vaida is a gender studies researcher and EU project manager with a strong focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
She has led projects such as iSEX and Beyond Gender, bringing together both academic research and professional expertise in LGBTQ+ equality, intimacy, and sexuality education. Passionate about creating dialogue around gender, sexuality, and cultural differences, Vaida works towards challenging discriminatory narratives and translating social change into everyday life through innovative educational approaches.
Yelyzaveta (Lisa) Bashcheva
Researcher | Project Manager
Lisa is an emerging EU project manager and core team member at In Touch, focusing on diversity and inclusion.
While still early in her career, she is actively gaining experience in proposal writing, project coordination, and managing EU-funded initiatives. With a strong foundation in sociology and gender studies fields, Lisa is passionate about empowering diverse communities through gender and social inclusion projects. She also leverages social media as a tool for social change, ensuring In Touch’s initiatives reach and engage wider audiences.
Rita Ghiurutan-Bura
Trainer | Facilitator
Rita is a speech and language therapist, voice coach, and special education teacher, with a deep focus on artistic methods of voice and movement.
Currently working as an Inclusion Specialist at the International School Utrecht, she also lectures part-time on child development. At In Touch, she applies her expertise to intergenerational projects, using creative and therapeutic methods to enhance communication, self-expression, and social connection, especially for children with special needs and ADHD.
Balázs Bodó
Researcher | Policy Expert | Professor
Balázs is a professor and socio-legal researcher at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in technology governance and digital policy.
With a background in blockchain policy, digital piracy, and regulatory conflicts, he leads research on trust in digital societies. His career has taken him to Stanford, Harvard, and Berlin, shaping his expertise on the legal and political implications of emerging technologies. Outside academia, Balázs expresses his creativity through jewelry-making.
Bugra Burak Akmanoglu
Designer | Photographer | Visual Storyteller
Burak is a freelance designer, video creator, and photographer with a passion for visual storytelling. His work spans web design, social media management, and multimedia content creation, helping organizations and brands craft compelling digital identities.
With an eye for detail and a deep appreciation for aesthetics, Burak brings creativity and technical expertise to every project he takes on. Whether behind the camera or designing seamless user experiences, he is dedicated to translating ideas into striking visuals. As a volunteer at In Touch, he contributes his skills in photography and web design, capturing the essence of our initiatives and bringing them to life online.
Explore his work: Burak Akmanoğlu
Mirte Kortbeek
Language & Sports Teacher
Mirte is a language and sports teacher for people of all ages. She also has a background in social policy research, and was involved in several EU projects in the field of social inclusion and equality.
Currently teaching communicative Dutch language classes, Mirte is combining theory with creative approaches, such as theatre, music and movement. At InTouch, she helps with translations, such as toolkits for youth workers, and the organisation of workshops.