Fernando Botelho

Fernando Botelho is a graduate of Cornell University and Georgetown University. Born in Brazil, he has been a bit of a nomad, living in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Switzerland and the United States. Fernando has done project management and IT work for small firms, for the United Nations and for a major Swiss bank. He currently works as a freelance consultant for non-governmental organisations and companies in Brazil, Germany and the United States. Fernando has also spent several years as a Trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Chong Chan-Yau

After graduating from the University of Hong Kong in English studies and psychology, Chan-Yau earned a master’s degree in information systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He served in Hong Kong’s government, with Oxfam, and at the University of Hong Kong. Currently, Chan-Yau is pursuing the development of social enterprises. He is vice-chair of the board of Dialogue in the Dark, Hong Kong, chairman of Carbon Care Asia, and director of EL 2100. He is also the president of Hong Kong Blind Union and vice-chair of the Joint Council for Physically and Mentally Handicapped in Hong Kong. Chan-Yau is now one of the Trainers with Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Lynn Cox

Lynn Cox holds degrees in Mathematics & Computing and Fine Art, as well as obtaining a Masters in Site Specific Art. Born in England, she is an accredited leadership coach and equalities trainer who has dedicated her life to assisting others to appreciate the world around them in new and exciting ways. Lynn is a trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise since 2010.

Daniela Dimitrova

Born in Bulgaria, Daniela Dimitrova lost her eyesight at the age of six. She holds two Master’s degrees: one in interpreting and translation from the University of Sofia, and one in International Social Business from the Bulgarian University of National and World Economy. Since 2000, her work with Dialogue in the Dark has given Daniela the opportunity to practice her belief that everyone can live his/her individual life. While still a freelance interpreter, she works fulltime for Dialogue Social Enterprise where she is responsible for the development of human resources for Dialogue in the Dark worldwide.

Liran Frank

Born in Israel with a rare eye disease, Liran Frank trained as an English teacher and worked as a computer technician at Tel-Aviv University, assisting students with various disabilities. Liran coped with the loss of his eyesight by believing that, if one accepts oneself and one’s situation, one can overcome anything by using the mind, natural abilities and optimism. When he discovered that Dialogue in the Dark shares this belief, Liran decided to spread the important message of ability and diversity at Dialogue in the Dark in Holon, Israel. Liran is now one of the Master Guides and Trainers for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Miguel Alejandro Guerra

Miguel was born in Mexico and has been blind since 2003. He has studied music production and classical composition, and has a degree in international relations and studies. Miguel is currently pursuing a master degree in philosophy specializing in Islam, the Arab world and the Middle East. He writes for culture, international politics and philosophy magazines, and joined the Dialogue trainers’ team in 2010 in Mexico City.

Constanze Hill

As the blind daughter of two psychologists, Constanze Hill learned early that it’s important to ask for help if needed and to give support if possible. Having earned a degree in psychology, Constanze is a trained social counsellor and coach who loves to take her clients into total darkness so they can see the light within. When she is in a foreign place, people help her find her way; she will do the same for you and your team because, in all times, no matter how dark, there is light. Born in Austria, Constanze is now a Trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Thomas Hill

Born blind, Thomas Hill studied psychology in Germany. Now living in Austria, the German native is employed as a trainer, psychologist and hypnotherapist. Thomas likes to work with people in order to show them that the impossible is just within their reach. He looks forward to seeing all people – in his way. He has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark activities for many years in Germany and Austria and is now a Trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Dörte Maack

Dörte Maack is a trained actress who has spent many years training other performers. She studied educational science, sports and linguistics and has taught at Hamburg University. In the late 1990s, Dörte slowly lost her eyesight and began transforming her experiences with and without sight into extraordinary training concepts for executives and teams. Since 2002, the German native has worked for Dialogue in the Dark in Hamburg, Germany, developing educational and business workshops in total darkness. She was the first Trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise.

José Macías

José Macías lost his eyesight at the age of six. He holds a degree in translation and is currently working toward a Master’s in organizational psychology. José works for the government of Monterrey, Mexico, in the field of human resources and general services. Additionally, he is a freelance translator. Born in Mexico, José likes travelling, reading and cooking, and his most important values are freedom and human success. He has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark for several years and is a Trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Liam O´Caroll

Liam was born in Epsom, England in 1970. He loves literature and performance and graduated in 1993 from Roehampton University with a degree in Drama and English. He then gained a Masters at the University of Wales, Bangor, specialising in Arthurian tradition in twentieth-century fiction.Since graduating, he has worked mostly as an actor in television, theatre and radio and also writes and performs his own comedy material, has shared the bill with some of Britain’s top acts and is a member of the Abnormally Funny People comedy team. As a blind person, he is committed to raising awareness in the public of all aspects of visual impairment. To this end, he devised a one-man show called “A Blind Bit of Difference” which he regularly presents in schools and workplaces. Liam first came to the attention of Dialogue Social Enterprise in 2010.

Antonio Organtini

Antonio Organtini works in Rome as a lawyer specializing in civil and administrative law, and as a consultant in social and human rights legislation. His involvement in Dialogue in the Dark includes years as a Master Guide and as a Trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise. Antonio’s personal life also demonstrates his belief in freedom and equal opportunity: although blind, the Italian native practices swimming, running, cycling, sailing, skiing, kayaking, yoga, guitar, and wine tasting.

Siegfried Saerberg

Dr. Siegfried Saerberg holds degrees in sociology, philosophy and political science. Born in Germany, he is currently working as an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Dortmund University. Additionally, Siegfried is a writer, musician and composer. As a blind collaborator, he has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark activities in Germany for many years and he is now one of the Dialogue Trainers.

Yahye Siyad

Yahye, born in Somalia of East Africa in 1983, was raised in Bahrain where he received his primary and secondary education. In 2006, Yahye became a British citizen and a graduate of Westminster University in International Relations & Arabic. He has been Chairman of the London Goalball Club since 2003 and represented Great Britain for 5 years in Goalball. He speaks Somalian, Arabic, English and a bit of Spanish and enjoys keeping fit. Beside that he has a passion for history, travelling and cultural exchange. Yahye has travelled to over 25 countries. His life philosophy is: “Where there is a will, there is a way!” Since May 2010, he works as a trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Verenice Hernández Sucilla

Verenice is currently working for Ixe Bank. She collaborates in an organization for the visually impaired (“Ojos Que Sienten”), where her activities include making pictures, taking videos, and serving as a waitress for dinners in the dark. From the debut of Dialogue in the Dark in Mexico City, Verenice has worked as a tour guide in two exhibitions, and as a master guide for Dialogue in the Dark in Monterrey. Since 2010 she has also been a Dialogue trainer. Her goal in her work is to help people realize that light and dark are just knowledge used to grow as human beings.

Anoma Tissera

Born blind, German native Anoma Tissera holds a degree in special education. She heard about Dialogue in the Dark some twenty years ago and has participated in its activities ever since. Since 2001, Dialogue in the Dark has been Anoma’s permanent employer and she works as a Dialogue Social Enterprise Trainer, and Educator in Hamburg, Germany. Because Dialogue in the Dark has had exhibitions around the world, Anoma has been able to combine her work and her love of travel.

Mónica Vázquez

Mónica has a university degree in pedagogy and has done studies in educational sciences and neurolinguistics programming. She collaborates with an organization for the visually impaired where she is waitress in the dark and a photographer. She also works in the Mexican government’s Women & Social Welfare Institute, and supports NGOs for persons affected by cancer and AIDS. Her objective is to open communication channels between blind people and sighted people and to help achieve genuine equity and inclusiveness: “The only human disability comes from facing life with a negative attitude”. Mónica has been a guide in both Dialogue in the Dark exhibitions in Mexico City. In September 2010, she joined the Dialogue trainers’ team.

“The only disability of human being is to face life with a negative attitude”

Mónica Vázquez

Tony Ward

Born in Ireland, Tony Ward graduated from University College Dublin with a business degree in 1985 and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1988. He works as a consultant and is a director of several businesses in the private and volunteer sector. Tony has certificates in life coaching and counselling skills. Since beginning to lose his sight, he has represented Ireland at European and World level in middle distance running and has completed two marathons. Tony is a Trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Erik Weinstock

Born in the USA with a rare eye disease, Erik Weinstock graduated from Tulane University’s School of Engineering in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Economics. He has worked as an engineer, a sales director and a website publisher. With Dialogue Social Enterprise, Eric has been an exhibition guide at Dialogue in the Dark in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as a Dialogue Trainer. He is part of the training network for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Volker Wüst

A native of Germany, Volker Wüst has served as an operations clerk, a manager in the fields of insurance and legal issues, and in the fields of fleet operation and technical supply. Occasionally, Volker has also worked as a musician, music producer and audio engineer in his own recording studio. He is partially sighted and has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark activities since 2000. Volker is one of the Master Guides for Dialogue Social Enterprise.

Araceli Yáñez

Born in Mexico City, Araceli has a degree in communications sciences. She leads conferences about disability and social awareness. Her experience in this field has taken her to places as far away as Taiwan as a conference leader. Currently, Araceli is part of an organization that works on behalf of vulnerable groups. She also conducts radio interviews and writes articles for a web page where she discusses disability, vulnerability and social awareness. She became a Dialogue trainer in September 2010 in Mexico City.

Zhu Min

Zhu Min was born in China and educated in Shanghai. He has worked mostly as a language tutor and translator, as well as a therapist in traditional Chinese therapy. Since 2007, Zhu has been part of Dialogue Social Enterprise. Currently, he is working as a Guides Manager and Dialogue Trainer at Dialogue in the Dark, Hong Kong. He is blind but he believes that the world has so much to offer for all people to enjoy “that only the sky is the limit”.