Committed to Creating
Positive Change
We are a team of passionate educators who believe in the power of education to drive meaningful societal change.
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At the heart of MARKED with Purpose is Founder Ida Nevalainen, a visionary leader with a background in education and psychiatric youth counseling from Finland. Ida is responsible for the development of MARKED with Purpose activities and global partnerships.
Every young person has a unique story and purpose, longing for support to emerge in this world.
Leading the Global MARKED Educator Program is Anne-Mari Kuusimäki, a dedicated educational professional with a PhD in Philosophy (Education) from the University of Helsinki. With 20 years of experience in training, Anne-Mari is a seasoned teacher, solution-focused trainer, and coach, with expertise as a solution-focused neuropsychiatric coach.
Creating a positive emotional connection with a young person is the most important value task for an educator.
Annukka Töyri is one of the trainers in the Global MARKED Educator Program. She is an accomplished educator and doctoral researcher with a Master’s in Education and a specialization in special education. Additionally, Annukka is a certified solution-focused supervisor and neuropsychiatric coach, bringing valuable expertise and dedication to our trainings.
Teaching is the greatest act of optimism. -Colleen Wilcox
Ia Kawasaki is a master’s student in Changing Education at the University of Helsinki. With her transdisciplinary approach, Ia leads MARKED with Purpose’s international partnership and project coordination.
I believe everyone has a spark within, and I strive to create supportive and safe environments for more people to re/connect with themselves and re/discover and nurture their potential with self-dignity.
Christine Namdar serves MARKED as a researcher focused on impact assessment. With her extensive background in teaching, Christine ensures that our educational initiatives are grounded in effective practices by evaluating their impact.
Youth, in general, are seldom regarded in terms of their positive potentials, though the rhetoric is about them being our future. We must look at the positive potential and capabilities of youth as transformative agents of change.